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End Racism at Mary Washington University

End Racism at Mary Washington University

409 signatures 91 to reach 500
J
Jordan signed
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Santos N. signed
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Lumumba U. signed
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Darlene G. signed
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Tracey H. signed
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Gary D. signed
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Marietta M. signed
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HECTOR R. signed
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Leonard G. signed
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Michael W. signed
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Started by Art Taylor 9 years, 3 months ago

If you played a sport in college please sign your name and list the sport you played and college you attended. If you did not play a sport or did not attend college just list your name

This Washington Post Article reports instances of blatant racial discrimination and harassment against a black student athlete by white student athletes on the Mary Washington University Woman's Basketball team. When reported to head coach Deena Applebury, the Washington Post reports as follows:
"But about two weeks before tryouts, coach Deena Applebury called her in for a meeting and suggested she try a different sport.
“I don’t know if this is going to work, all right?” Applebury said, according to a transcript included in court papers, adding that she had heard Orsted was not “really bonding with the kids.”
Orsted brought up the racial comments, and Applebury promised to look into them. But, she added, “when you have, you know, a group versus one person, I kind of have to go to the group because it’s a team sport, for right, wrong, or otherwise.”
There’s a transcript because, at her mother’s prodding, Orsted secretly recorded the conversation. Sheila Holt-Orsted had also told her to keep a diary documenting jokes that made her uncomfortable."
We, former college athletes and fans believe racism has no place in sports and academia. Coach Applebury's handling of the situation was unacceptable and fosters a climate of discrimination and we are therefore calling for the University to remove Coach Applebury from her position as head coach.

Updates

Reached 250 supporters

May 1, 2018

June 11, 2017

Seeing the momentum grow is draining but necessary work. I am exhausted by the reality we are fighting but knowing so many of you are behind this keeps me moving forward.

May 2, 2017

One hundred people have now attached their names to this fight. It is exhausting to revisit these details but seeing your support makes it clear that we are not going to let this go.

Reached 100 supporters

April 30, 2017

April 29, 2017

The climb to one hundred signatures has been grueling and I am honestly exhausted by the silence from those in charge. Please keep this moving because we need to reach that mark before they can dismiss our concerns as a minor issue.

217 Comments

T
Terrell Jackson
9 years ago Featured

This is sad coach Applebury did that. Coach Applebury also runs a Nike basketball camp for young girls at Mary Washington. How can a coach teach young girls of different races on basketball but support racism.

F
Fran and Mitch Schneider
9 years ago Featured

Racism and intolerance have no place in the world today. Parents have entrusted teachers and coaches with their children's well-being, whether in a classroom or on a sports team. No one has a right to demean anyone and to make that person feel not good about themselves. This is definitely not a coach who should be in this position.

J
Jean Webley
9 years ago Featured

This coach used the ridiculous excuse of "team" to justify or excuse her racism and that of her white players. She definitely knew what she was doing in undermining this player's athletic ability and future.

C
Carolyn Ray
9 years ago Featured

Employee at Muhlenberg College. Racism has no place in this world and least of all shouldn't be tolerated in higher education!!!

A
Anonymous
9 years ago Featured

The treatment of this young athlete, and the other African-Americans in the women's basketball program at Mary Washington is unconscionable. The lack of response by the coach MUST be addressed.

M
Maurice Williams
7 years ago Featured

NCAA needs to step in and protect the rights of this student athlete. This is a travesty to women's sports and America don't take a blind eye to racism NCAA!

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Santos Negron
3 years ago

There only one race the HUMAN RACE ....

L
Lumumba Uncaged
3 years ago

Eliminate racism; erase Black hate!

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