Ugly Racist Incident In NCAA Game Yesterday

I must chuckle at that, only because it reminds me of the mindlessness your are allowed to get away with in college. 
 
This topic is just ridiculous.


I think the problem is that we have become an over-sensitized country.  I am in no way condoning racism or prejudice. However, we must look at the situation. It was a bunch of college students (more than likely intoxicated) at a basketball game, trying to get into the head of an opposing player. They would say just about anything to get into the heads of the other team. I really don't think the student's were trying to make a personal attack on the player or his ethnicity. They were just words, no more and no less. The player, as well as many others, are going to face a lot worse in their lives other than just having opposing fans scream stuff at them. And a lot of former players that I have spoken with, at various levels, have said that they don't pay attention or even hear what fans yell. Whether that is true or not, I don't really know. As other posters have noted, Patrick Ewing faced a lot worse back in the day.

And if you think about it, its is kind of similar to the posters on this board calling Pelle and Sampson traitors and talking sh*t on them when they decided to de-commit. People just talking about kids they don't know anything about....
 
And if you think about it, its is kind of similar to the posters on this board calling Pelle and Sampson traitors and talking sh*t on them when they decided to de-commit. People just talking about kids they don't know anything about....
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Bingo, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
 
 May have been stupid but I wouldn't compare them to European Hooligans like the NY Times did
Also, remember in some states like Texas undocumented aliens a.k.a. illegals get in-state tuition.
They even have their own financial aid form the TAFSA. One of the many reasons why Gov Perry won't be President Perry.
Sensitive issue for many law-abiding taxpayers.
 
 May have been stupid but I wouldn't compare them to European Hooligans like the NY Times did
Also, remember in some states like Texas undocumented aliens a.k.a. illegals get in-state tuition.
They even have their own financial aid form the TAFSA. One of the many reasons why Gov Perry won't be President Perry.
Sensitive issue for many law-abiding taxpayers.
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And that was the proper forum for these "law-abiding taxpayers" to express their displeasure with Immigration policy? Let's just recognize racism for what it is.
 
Green card. Big Deal! When I lived in Syracuse, those degenerates (18-19 year old SU) fans, used to call the opposing teams cheerleaders every disrespectful name they could think of.  They used the word tramps, along with sluts, and whores.
 
 We can all agree or disagree as to what we as individuals consider to be appropriate behavior at a sporting event. Let's be clear about one thing though, the chant was only directed at a Latino player. Anyone who says it was not ethnic or racial is clearly misguided. Comparing that chant to when posters here call a player a traitor is comparing apples and oranges, they are nowhere near the same type of incident.
 
This is good enough for me:

" We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today's game," Martha Saunders, the school's president said in a statement. "The words of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university. We apologize to Mr. Rodriguez and will take quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident."
 
Green card. Big Deal! When I lived in Syracuse, those degenerates (18-19 year old SU) fans, used to call the opposing teams cheerleaders every disrespectful name they could think of.  They used the word tramps, along with sluts, and whores.
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I had no idea that Rush Limbaugh was an SU alum. ;)
 
I'm actually a little surprised by the commentary on this issue. Perhaps it was topic header "ugly racist incident" that made posters defensive on behalf of the members of the So. Miss band who started the "show your green card" chant (since many of us have witnessed far more disturbing incidents). Or the initial reaction (throw them out of school) that felt too extreme for our consciousness. But this is an embarrassment to all those involved and should go punished. Here's why:
1. The members of the band represent their university. Sure, all we care about are the student/athletes, but band members are wearing their university logos while traveling with university funding, and are as responsible to behave themselves as the players. They aren't some drunk kids starting a tasteless chant, they are a student body representation of their school at a public event and they embarrassed their alumni, faculty, and fellow students. Its not unreasonable to exclude them from further participation from the band.
2. The chant was blatantly racist (if you don't think a green card chant to a Latino athlete was race based, I congratulate you on your blissful ignorance). To many of us who have heard that same taunt "in jest" growing up, it is not welcome or appreciated.
3. If nothing else, the lack of education coupled with an unchecked accountability for public behavior demonstrated by college students continues a frightening trend. Whether its racist videos posted by UCLA students directed at Asian classmates or chants like these, many students today demonstrate both stupidity and a willingness to share their ignorance without fear of repercussions. When I first saw this, I wasn't offended as a person of Puerto Rican descent, I felt embarrassed for the alumni, faculty and PAYING student body of So. Miss. If I was in a position of authority at So. Miss, after I kicked these kids off the band, I would make their status as students contingent on learning American history and geography, maybe then I would feel comfortable putting my university's name on their degree.

I also understand that many will not share my point of view or even find my reaction too sensitive in this "politically correct" world we live in. That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. It is a freedom that countless Puerto Rican/American military service members died in defense of.
 
 I'm sorry, this wasn't right, nor am I defending it, but I think that everyone is overreacting a bit here. I really wouldn't call this an "ugly racist incident." Inappropriate, yes, but nothing to kick someone out of school over. As someone else indicated, the Duke kids do this type of stuff all the time. But no one complains, because it's Duke.
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Duke kids were pretty much sticken their hands in Harrisons face when he was inbounding from side court. Not quite an assault, but kinda vulgar. Duke kids known to be obnoxious, so I don't think of them as being hateful, just being themselves. Hearing green card crap at a time when 30% of the country seems to feed of hate stinks. I hope my 30% number to high. If we have candidates for office pander to haters about what language is proper, bad stuff going to leak through.  What we do hear is todays young people don't carry some of the old thinking along with them. America's youth is our future, so lets hope.
 
 lost their scholarships, kicked out of the band, and have to attend sensitivity classes
 
 lost their scholarships, kicked out of the band, and have to attend sensitivity classes
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Sensitivity training probably effective if you are simply an idiot, but not if you are racist to begin with.

But loss of scholarship and kicked out of band seem about right to me. As representatives of the university, they need to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.

They should be told to volunteer for grunt work for a certain amount of hours at a local nonprofit targeting Latinos, and then allowed to reapply for band.
 
 lost their scholarships, kicked out of the band, and have to attend sensitivity classes
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Sensitivity training probably effective if you are simply an idiot, but not if you are racist to begin with.

But loss of scholarship and kicked out of band seem about right to me. As representatives of the university, they need to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.

They should be told to volunteer for grunt work for a certain amount of hours at a local nonprofit targeting Latinos, and then allowed to reapply for band.
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The whole concept of "sensitivity training" is absurd, and this entire incident has gotten blown way out of proportion. It was certainly distasteful, but in the end, I am sure it was meant as a joke, and not intended to be malicious in any way. That being said, I guess the university can discipline its students as it sees fit.
 
A boring "old man/back in the day" story. So for most, just go on to the next post; when I played in high school in the 60's in New Jersey our arch-rival had a band box gym in which spectators would stand two deep around the court where there were no bleachers, close enough that the refs would have to carve out space for the thrower on in bounds plays. Fire laws would prevent that from happening today but that's the way it was. It was common for fans to hold coins in electrical alligator clips, apply a match or lighter and poke them at us as we ran past during the game. We knew it was coming and considered it part of the game. Anyone who reacted or caused it to affect their game was considered a wimp. Today, there would be nothing but indignant parents, cops, lawyers, and courts. Anyway, it reminds me how much the world has changed when name calling can provoke the response this "incident" has just on this board.
 
It's only words but words matter; one caucasian saying nasty things to another caucasian is not a racist. He may be dumb and insensitive, but he or she is not a racist. They are the same race. 
 
It's only words but words matter; one caucasian saying nasty things to another caucasian is not a racist. He may be dumb and insensitive, but he or she is not a racist. They are the same race. 
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Why does meanness have to be labeled and categorized? Nasty is nasty and should your hypothetical caucasian who was called "nasty things" take solace in the fact that it wasn't racist? It is the intent, not the word; and I hardly think in this incident the band was attempting to traumatize the player long term.
 
I'm generally in agreement with your response, but in these hyper-sensitive times I'm simply stating that highlighting the thread name as "racist incident" is inflamatory and absolutely in error. 
 
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