Terps turns to state to muzzle vulgar fans

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The University of Maryland is seeking help from the state's attorney general to curb the use of vulgar chants by fans at the games of the school's men's basketball team.

The university's chief counsel, Terry Roach, said yesterday he will discuss with Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. steps the school can take to stop the chants that have embarrassed and upset school officials.

Those officials say school policy prevents them from stopping fans from screaming expletives at opposing teams or wearing T-shirts that bear vulgar slogans because those actions are protected by the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.

"A lot of people feel strongly about it," Mr. Roach said. "We're looking at it again."

The profanity during games at Comcast Center has been worsening in recent seasons. An incident at last week's game between the Terrapins and the No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils particularly angered school officials and prompted them to reconsider the school's policy.

During the game, a sustained, vulgar chant was directed by Maryland students at Duke guard J.J. Redick and was clearly audible throughout the arena and by viewers of the ESPN broadcast. Students also wore T-shirts and carried signs that bore vulgar slogans directed at Duke.

Terrapins coach Gary Williams yesterday criticized the students' behavior.

"It's a shame because there's kids at the games," Mr. Williams said. "You get 10-, 12-year-old kids you're trying to teach certain things, and then that happens. It's not right. I don't care what the laws are. That's not right.

"We won a national championship here. We don't need that to help our program. Those people have to grow up. They're not our best fans, the people that chant that or wore the T-shirts."