lizabethtown College, like most college campuses, has seen its fair share of “lax bros”: men’s lacrosse players. You’ll see them coming into the Marketplace after a quick shooting session and leaving their sticks among the other backpacks and jackets. Lax bros are usually clad in their lax pinnies, hats, pastel colored shorts and high white socks. Urban Dictionary has a number definitions for this breed of man (and Urban Dictionary is the most reliable source of information on the Internet). “Lax bros are the chillest of the chill …lax bros’ schedules usually include some brews, some chicks and one or two lax sesh’s a day,” one entry claims.
Some students on campus seem to have a negative opinion of the “lax bros.” One student described them as acting as though they are superior to others. Another commented that they “don’t have much regard for anyone else — they’re very self-centered.” They are also often known for frequent partying, being “obnoxious,” etc.
While this stereotype is one that is wildly propagated, like all other stereotypes, isn’t it judgmental and harmful to the men’s lacrosse players? There are many sports stereotypes abounding in our society, and they aren’t all necessarily true. While people could claim that stereotypical statements about lax bros have truth to them, they still blindly lump individuals into a category that may or may not honestly describe them. Maybe this is because I am a lacrosse player, but I feel that it is fair to give the “lax bros” of our campus an opportunity to speak for themselves.
My assistant editor, and goalie for the men’s team, junior Adam Moore, gave his opinion regarding the issue. “I think it’s becoming more of a truth across the nation because of the spreading of the stereotype,” he said. “It’s a puzzle because guys who start playing lacrosse feel like they have to fit the stereotype since it’s so widespread.”
Responding to the students who call lax bros lazy and self-centered, Moore was very frustrated. “Calling the players lazy does the sport wrong because lacrosse is historically known as a hard-working sport, but players are doing it a disservice by acting in a manner that negatively reflects on the sport.” Moore also hates that others feel the lacrosse players act like they are better than everyone else. Moore feels that their team supports other sports teams on campus and works just as hard.
Now, some of you have read this editorial and genuinely considered the points I brought up and are left thinking, “Maybe the lax bros aren’t so bad after all.” I would bet though that most of you are still thinking, “Lax bros are total douches.” It is hard to dispel this stereotype, especially when many men’s lacrosse players at least fit the physical description of a lax bro. I’m also very much aware of the fact that there are men’s lacrosse players that are self-centered jerks who could really care less about anything besides their sport. However, I could say the very same thing about women’s lacrosse players. Or men’s soccer players. Or the track team. Or the members of Student Senate. Or dancers from Emotion…
What I’m trying to say is that being a lax bro doesn’t mean that you are automatically an arrogant jerk, and maybe if we could take the time to look past the Rainbow flip-flops and lax pinnies, we could meet some really cool people. We still might end up meeting some not-so-nice guys, but I think lax bros deserve to be given a fair chance, like all other human beings.
