On Jan.25, I attended the women’s basketball game against Marquette. While the ticket for the men’s game was a nice perk, it was not the first (or last) women’s game I have attended.

In fact, I wish more students went to the women’s games. It’s excellent basketball to watch. This is not the point I wish to address, however.

Before the game, during the national anthem, the pep band began to sing along with the vocalist brought in to perform the anthem. I have noticed this at several games, and it represents a concerning trend of disrespect for both the moment and for the guest musician given the honor of performing the anthem.

The presentation of colors and the performance of our national anthem before sporting events is an old and proud tradition. It is a reminder that, even though we compete against each other on the field or court, we are united as a nation. We have the leisure to compete in sports because of the sacrifices of others. This should not be a somber moment by any stretch of the imagination. Still, the performance of the anthem is not without purpose.

Perhaps more intimately important, Creighton frequently has students or local musical groups perform the anthem. This is seen as an honor, particularly if they are performing at the men’s games, which will likely be the largest crowd they ever perform for. By having a large group of students “sing along,” it takes away from the special moment these performers deserve.

Further, “The Star Spangled Banner” is not the easiest piece to perform, even for professionals. It has a devilishly wide range and veteran singers have been known to forget the lyrics. Many performers also like to put their own “spin” on the song when they perform it. Having an unexpected group attempting to sing along can be very distracting for a performer. Plus, given the complexity of the song, it usually doesn’t sound that good when performed by untrained voices. If trained voices struggle to perform the song well, it’s easy to understand why amateur voices should be reluctant to try to sing it.

This is not to say that there aren’t appropriate moments of patriotic pride. It is completely understandable why Americans attending their first public performance of the anthem after a national tragedy may be moved to sing out in one voice. These are incredibly touching and organic moments that speak to the enduring spirit of the American people. As such, they should not be confused with normal (although I hate to use that word) renditions of the anthem.

I appreciate the dedication and enthusiasm of the Creighton pep band. I count amongst their membership several of my friends. However, I simply ask them to not encourage people to sing at an inappropriate moment. Let the anthem before sporting events be a moment of reflection and allow the performer to have the spotlight for that moment. To me, this just seems to be, well, American.