Dartmouth College played host to Columbia College in an Ivy League football game on this beautiful Fall afternoon.

Columbia's "band" was the first on the field at half time, beginning its show with the announcer for the band uttering some disparaging remarks about the right to die case in Florida and Jeb Bush. The announcer then introduced the Columbia half-time show by inviting the crowd to join the band in their "Celebration of partial birth abortion"; this was followed by some ranting against the Pope and what the announcer described as his (the Pope's) "drooling and stuttering" speech. (The Pope, I believe, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease)

Dartmouth and Columbia are supposedly two of this countries finest institutions of higher learning and this half-time spectacle by the "band" from Columbia was more than offensive, even for those who are not Catholic. The presumption that celebrating the slaughter of babies in the birth canal is somehow related to the enjoyment of a Saturday afternoon football game is indicative of how far down the slope of immorality and debauchery this once fine institution has gone.

This is not the first time Columbia's "band" has purposefully insulted those of the Christian faith. A few years back one "band" member dressed as Christ (replete with crown of thorns) allowed others in the "band" to drag him by a rope, mock and kick him, all the while a stunned homecoming crowd stood silent.

One must ask how this type of thing is allowed, indeed condoned, by an institution that once stood as a model of an American education system second to none. At a time when America's courts demand the removal of all vestiges of Christian faith from the public square, it appears the only public exhibitions of Christianity allowed in this country are those designed to insult believers and blaspheme the object of Christian faith, Christ Himself.

As a former Columbia College student (Class of '80) I am appalled at the filth that now represents that institution's contribution to Ivy League sports. Both my father and brother attended Columbia as well (Class of '56 and '78 respectfully) and are equally troubled by the cesspool from which Columbia College half-time shows are dredged. Perhaps if a few more alumni made their objections known to the current administrators of the college there would be an end to this type of provocation. One thing is certain, if the "band's" mockery were directed at minority groups such as blacks or Jews this incident would rise to national significance and some would be without employment or a seat in the College student population.