Never before has an onomatopoeia caused so much debate.

A Facebook group created several years ago after fans started noticing a “whoo” between verses of the Rock Chalk Chant grabbed the attention of local news outlets last month, turning a grievance into a controversy.

“I have nothing against fans who are exuberant and there cheering at the game, it’s just that this is a 100 year tradition,” said Paul Birkholz, a 1998 graduate who created the Facebook group. “There’s not many universities out there that have anything close to that.”

Birkholz said that the whoo makes the chant seem more like a high school cheer and disregards the chant’s long history, but many students at Saturday’s men’s basketball game felt that the whoo shouldn’t be an issue.

“I don’t really see how it’s a big deal,” said Chelsea Vaught, a doctoral student from Henderson, Neb. “It’s just a whoo.”

Carson Pedigo, a sophomore from Wichita, appreciates the addition and said the whoo should definitely remain a part of the chant.

Other students are less accepting of the change.

“I don’t really like it,” said Dan Haven, an alumnus from Lawrence. “Its non-traditional.”

Adam Mauck, a sophomore from Goddard said he’s not a fan because it rolls over the traditional silence that follows “Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU.”

“It ruins the eeriness,” Mauck said. “It’s meant to be kind of creepy.”

Many students didn’t know the whoo was not technically part of the chant and several asked how the University could prevent something it has little control over to begin with.

Birkholz acknowledges that problem but expects that the whoo will fade once fans become aware of tradition. As for how he would like to see the University proceed, Birkholz said that a video message by Bill Self or another prominent figure discouraging the whoo before the game would be ideal. Teaching the original version of the chant at Traditions Night would also help.

Birkholz said the whoos at Saturday’s game already sounded more muted to him and several other members of the group.

Despite the increasing publicity, some are more concerned about another disrespectful addition to a traditional part of University sporting events.

“I care more about the home of the Chiefs exclamation being banned from the national anthem,” said Evan Fowler, a junior from Wichita. “We aren’t at Arrowhead.”

— Edited by Gabrielle Schock