Here’s a new motto for the BU Zoo: remember, remember the fifth of March.

The date I’m referring to was, of course, the day of last season’s America East semifinal against Vermont at the Events Center. Most fans probably remember that game, when the Bearcats built up a double-digit lead only to watch it slowly disintegrate into a victory for the hated Catamounts.

It was like a video game where the computer just wasn’t going to allow you to win, and all you wanted to do was start over — except there was no way to hit the reset button.

And how did the fans react? Did they hold their heads up high and keep cheering, thanking our Bearcats for the greatest season in program history? No. The Bearcat crowd first turned offensive, filling the air with chants of “F— you, Ref,” before finally turning its back on the players altogether, not even waiting until the game ended to give the graduating seniors who were playing in their final collegiate game the respect they deserved.

But this year will be different. A few Bearcat fans cared enough to go out of their way and make sure the BU Zoo worked the way it’s supposed to: as the most intimidating and rowdy student section in the America East, but one that stays within the constraints of good taste and supports our team through thick and thin.

This season, the BU Zoo is an official SA chartered student group. For the first time, students will have to sign up, free of charge, in order to be a member. The Zoo will also be more structured than ever before; there will be a section of seats reserved for Zoo members and organized trips to road games at schools like Albany and Colgate, and its members will have to abide by a constitution that will keep the BU Zoo something the school can be proud of, not something to be worried about.

“The key is organization,” said Or Raitses, the president of the BU Zoo and the man behind the plan for getting the group chartered. “We don’t want things like what happened in the tournament to happen again.”

Raitses’ idea has been met by the Athletics Department with great support because it is a way to hold the student section accountable for its actions. Included in the new guidelines will be rules against cursing at referees, intimidating other players and showing up to games drunk.

Raitses has met some opposition to his proposal, as there are some people who say that the SA charter makes the Zoo too hierarchal and creates a social class at games that shouldn’t exist. He contests this with the fact that anyone can sign up for the Zoo; in order to join, students only have to submit their name and e-mail address.

Raitses also believes organizing the Zoo will not serve as a deterrent to the rowdy nature the group is known for.

“I want it to be even crazier,” he said. “But as crazy as you can get before you start stomping on the court.”

Keeping the Zoo crazy while controlling its actions will be the key for this to succeed. As much as everyone loves the Junior Bearcat Club, they are not the reason that Albany coach Will Brown has to pump crowd noise into his practice gym before coming to the Events Center. Players around the league fear coming to Vestal because of the hostile environment created by the BU Zoo.

Hopefully the group will remain intimidating, but also keep the Events Center a place where everyone can enjoy the game.

After all, like Al Walker says before every game, the goal of our student section is to “cheer loudly, cheer often, but most of all, cheer with class.”

BOX: To sign up for the BU Zoo, look for the Zoo’s table at the Events Center during basketball games. It is completely FREE to join. All you need is your name, e-mail address and expected year of graduation, and you’ll be able to join. The Zoo plans to provide its members with numerous perks, like shirts and food before games; they also plan to organize trips to Colgate, Albany and to the America East tournament, which will be held this March in Boston.