I'm very close to Troph here in that the song does mean something to me. Traditional and ritual are an important human element to bond us to institutions and to each other, and this is one of those for me, and many others. Participating in singing the The Eyes, more than anything else, makes me feel connected to the University and remember my time there and what the University did for me.
I've been doing mental exercises to try to see the song as racist. I can't get there. I think if I could I'd be be all on board with ditching it.
What bothers me most (and has been discussed a bit), is that I think the players dislike it based on false assumptions/information. All the comments I've seen from former/current players about it either directly state or seem to imply they believe the song was adapted from words intended to intimidate slaves - that the words really mean that you can't escape your master. Based on the known facts and context I'm confident that's not true. The original and adapted quote were both addressed to either students or soldiers, predominately white - and to me clearly intended to inspire the people to be their best.
The other connections to racism (performed at a minstrel show , adapted from quote of Confederate officer, tune of the song).. just aren't enough for me. I can find similar tangential connections to just about anything. But if I thought these were the primary motivators rather than thinking the song was referring to slaves directly - I'd even be closer to ok with it. I'd disagree the logic, but at least I'd understand the "other side's" conclusions were drawn from facts.
As an aside, what further sucks is that we're even focusing on this relatively trivial thing when there are real problems and real changes that need to be addressed. Throwing this in sowed division rather than unity - which is unfortunate.
Maybe I'm overthinking it...