KSU students still upset over racist chant incident

A week after some University of Southern Mississippi band members took part in a racially-insensitve chant directed at a Kansas State basketball player, KSU students say they stand behind their athlete and recognize that the incident doesn't reflect on the whole university.

A university investigation determined five USM pep band members chanted "where's your green card" while KSU point guard Angel Rodriguez shot free throws at the first-round game during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in Pittsburgh.

The USM president and interim athletic director both offered apologies to Rodriguez, who is from Puerto Rico.

KSU students saw the chant as an insult not only on their player, but on their university, KSU junior Annie McBee said.

"Everyone was upset by the incident," McBee said. "When you attack one of our players it's like you're attacking the school as a whole, so people tend to take that kind of thing personally."

KSU senior Ariel Sinha said the chant "perpetuated the stereotypes of persisting racism in the South," and made the students look ignorant. Rodriguez himself pointed out that he doesn't need a green card, because Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth.

"Not only does it infuriate K-Staters, but it makes Southern Miss look like a backwards and bigoted community," Sinha said.

USM President Martha Saunders issued a public apology from the school to Rodriguez, and, in a statement, the university said the five chanters had had their pep band scholarships revoked, were dismissed from the band and will be required to complete a cultural sensitivity training course.

"The students have been forthcoming, cooperative, contrite and sincerely remorseful," USM Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Paul said in a statement. "They acted rashly and inappropriately, and now see the gravity of their words and actions."

The backlash after the game shows how a small chant can go beyond the simple basketball game, Sinha said. The results of being in the spotlight and "facing hurtful fan reactions can change a person's life."

"We're all such loyal fans of our schools that sometimes we forget that the men and women on the court and field are human being," Sinha said. "With feelings, and families, and friends."

The incident did result in KSU coming together and showing that they won't stand for bigotry, students said, and that overshadows the repercussions.

"I think it shows that Southern Miss has some immature students," KSU sophomore Sarah Sedorcek sad. "As for KSU, I think it proves how KSU is open to diversity and is a very diverse school."

Students stressed that the incident shouldn't reflect on the entire USM student body. McBee said she hopes her school can learn from the incident.

"We all saw how bad it made Southern Mississippi look," McBee said. "I would hope that our school would have enough self-respect and respect for others not to turn to such pathetic tactics during games."

Paige Cornwell is a Spring 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.