Administrators order actions after racial attacks
By Heather Harlan
Following an attack at SUNY Binghamton against four Asian American students that allegedly involved members of the university’s wrestling team, school administrators ordered all members of the team participate in programs on diversity, conflict resolution and alcohol awareness.
Administrators at the university will also informally review the wrestling program on an on-going basis and conduct a formal review in June 2001, said Lois DeFleur, president of SUNY Binghamton.
On Feb. 27, three members of the team allegedly assaulted four Asian American students outside a dormitory while yelling racial slurs. One of the victims, John Lee, suffered a fractured skull, cerebral hemorrhaging and a concussion. The other three were less seriously injured.
One of the alleged assailants, Chad Scott, was indicted on third-degree assault charges by a Broome County grand jury. Charges against two other wrestlers, Nicholas Richetti and Christopher Taylor are still pending before the grand jury.
Richetti has been expelled from the University and Scott was suspended for two years. Disciplinary charges against Taylor were dropped.
The incident was one of several violent episodes this semester that were allegedly perpetrated by members of the wrestling team. One wrestler was accused of being involved in another assault in downtown Binghamton, and earlier in the month, members of the team reportedly participated in a brawl at a nearby Denny’s restaurant.
After the attack on the four Asian Americans, DeFleur ordered a review of the wrestling program. A report prepared by Joel Thirer, the university’s director of physical education, was handed over to DeFleur last week. It listed six recommendations to be implemented beginning next September.
The recommendations include that members participate in conflict-resolution and alcohol awareness programs as well as “additional programming that specifically deals with heightening sensitivity toward diverse ethnic groups and the negative implications of violence and hate crimes,” according to a statement issued by the school’s Office of University Relations.
Katie Ellis, a university spokesperson, said that alcohol was a factor in the attack on the Asian Americans. Ellis said that all varsity athletes already receive some alcohol awareness counseling, but that extra programming will be provided especially for the wrestling team.
The report recommended that present members of the wrestling team be strongly discouraged from socializing with previously suspended or former members of the wrestling team who are still attending the university, and from going to places where problems have regularly occurred.
Wrestling coaches are also being directed to focus on recruiting students who have not only excellent academic credentials and exceptional athletic skills, but also possess “the ability and desire to be good citizens of the University,” and to take a more careful look at the behavioral profiles of prospective recruits, the prepared statement said.
President DeFleur accepted all of the report’s recommendations, Ellis said. Thirer said there will be harsh consequences for both students and coaches if any future disciplinary problems occur that involve student athletes.
“Any varsity athlete failing to comply with existing rules and regulations regarding personal conduct will face immediate suspension from his or her team, including potential loss of athletically related financial aid if any is being received,” said Thirer. “If any of the intercollegiate coaching staff is unable to maintain appropriate levels of control over their athletes, then it is possible to reexamine the status of their employment contracts.”
Some Asian American students expressed skepticism about the recommendations. Peter Van Do, President of the Asian Student Union, called the review of the wrestling program a “token statement.”
“The administration needs to do more in educating students about diversity through its curriculum, and in supplying services to the needs of its students who are underrepresented,” said Van Do. “That includes hiring faculty and staff who are trained in Asian American affairs.”
The lawyer representing the Asian American students said it was “too early to tell” if the new programs would help deter future bias incidents at the university.
“I applaud their first step in making sure the wrestling team gets monitored,” said Sin Yen Ling of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). “But we don’t know yet what exactly they will be trained on in these programs.”