(CNN) -- Five members of the University of Southern Mississippi pep band have had their scholarships revoked and have been removed from the band after they yelled a derogatory chant at a Puerto Rican player during an NCAA basketball tournament game last week.
The school announced the disciplinary action in a statement Tuesday, saying the five "have been forthcoming, cooperative, contrite and sincerely remorseful."
"They acted rashly and inappropriately, and now see the gravity of their words and actions," Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Paul said. "This is a teachable moment, not only for these students but for our entire student body and those who work with them." The students will also be required to complete a two-hour training course on cultural sensitivity, the school said. The school has not identified the students.
TV cameras captured the incident during the University of Southern Mississippi-Kansas State University game at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday. As Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez shot free throws, several people could clearly be heard chanting, "where's your green card."
The university's president apologized to Rodriguez, saying the chant wasn't representative of the university.
Rodriguez said Friday, "I heard it. I don't pay attention to that nonsense, especially because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth, so we don't need no type of papers." "Their athletic director and personnel from their school came to apologize, and I accepted it," he said. Rodriguez said he realized that there are "ignorant people, and I know that is not how they want to represent their university."
The eighth-seeded Kansas State Wildcats beat the ninth-seeded Southern Miss Golden Eagles 70-64, knocking them out of the tournament. Kansas State advanced to the next round, but lost to Syracuse.
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I totally agree with this punishment because I know what it feels like when people just judge you because of your looks or skin color, I can't believe there is still racist problems like this in the 21 century. I think this should be an example for all the people in the University, and everywhere. We need to learn how to respect the different races in the world.
ReplyDeleteLucy M7
I agree with Lucy, racism is not acceptable and they deserved to get their scholarships revoked. No one should be made to feel like less of a person because of their race or physical apperance. I hope that more people think about their actions because of this incident.
ReplyDeleteAbby D P3
I think that Rodriguez is a very strong person. Some people don't think about their actions and it messes with everyone's life. If those people didn't do what they did they would still have their scholarships and everyone would be fine, I hope they learned their lesson.
ReplyDeleteAubrey P 2nd Period
A scholarship is a gift. Usually when you're given a gift you want to use it to the best of your ability. If someone gives you a scholarship, they are expecting that you will set examples for others. You are looked upon to act respectful to your school and be a role model for everyone. So, if the band members thought that by being racist was the way they should act, then they definitely weren't the right kind of people to deserve a scholarship in the first place.
ReplyDeleteElle O. p7
I agree that these students needed to have a consequence, their actions and words were totally out of line. However, revoking scholarships seems too extreme for the situation. They earned and worked hard for their scholarships. I think they should have had a suitable punishment and a warning. If any more disruption was caused by the same people, then the scholarships should be revoked. But I feel that as only a first offense of only a few words, taking away scholarships is too harsh of a consequence.
ReplyDeleteAnna C p3
I agree with Elle. Scholarships are given out to children who have worked hard, and deserve it. Yes Im sure these students have worked hard for the scholarships, but they need to take responsibility for their actions, acts of racism towards someone else is not okay! I disagree with Anna, I think its a good thing their scholarships were revoked. Again, they might of deserved it. But the player they were harrassing didn't deserve to be harrassed. He did nothing wrong. So the people who harrassed him now have to face the consequences. Sucks for them, but they didn't have to act that way!
ReplyDeleteSavannah T7
Even tho these students may have thought they were 'just having fun' they did something that could have hurt someone.
ReplyDeleteScholarships are given for specific reasons, different qualifications, and if what the students did went against these reasons then yes, they should have them revoked. I'm sure the parents of these students will think otherwise but they are probably ashamed at what their children did too. It is a lesson the students will remember the rest of their lives.
We all need to treat others as we would like to be treated.
Micaela C. p7
I think this whole thing was very disrespectful. It just shocks me that people are still racist and that they would actually say that out loud during a game. I'm glad Rodriguez didn't really pay attention to that because it could really hurt a person. I hope these people don't ever do something like this again!
ReplyDeleteSteph C. P3
I think that it is fair to take the Mississippi school bands scholarship and being removed from the band because it is inappropriate to yell a derogatory chant. They have to complete a 2 hour training course on culrual sensitivity,which is a great idea. In the game,when the other team was shooting free throws, the crowd could hear the Mississippi band shouting,"where's your green card." How inappropriate!
ReplyDeleteGrace E. P.2.
March Madness is huge in college basketball. Fans, college students, and more, will do anything to distract a player. But they used the most unnecessary and racial chant. Which is ridiculous, In my opinion, I think those students deserve to have their scholarships taken away. I'm sure those students didn't think through about what they could of had done with those chants.
ReplyDeleteLucky S. P.7