Editor’s Note: This story has been edited to better clarify the actions taken by MSNBC and CBS as of Wednesday night.
READ MORE: CBS drops Don Imus simulcast
Intense backlash continues more than a week after nationally syndicated radio host Don Imus called the primarily black Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos.” Imus made the remarks on his radio show, which is simulcast on MSNBC, one day after Rutgers lost to the University of Tennessee in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
MSNBC and CBS, who jointly produce the “Imus in the Morning” radio show, first announced a two-week suspension for Imus beginning April 16. MSNBC later decided to cancel its simulcast of the show. New LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor said Imus’ remarks resulted in “a sad day for America.” “You don’t want to know what I think the appropriate action would be [for Imus],” Chancellor said Wednesday after a press conference. Judy Southard, senior associate athletic director and NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee chair, said she worked with NCAA President Myles Brand and Rutgers President Richard McCormick to draft an NCAA statement condemning Imus’ remarks. “I think what Don Imus said was a travesty,” Southard said. “These are very talented young women and students. They are great people. It’s indefensible. I would hope that human beings in this world would be better than that.” Southard said she preferred not to comment on the appropriate disciplinary action for Imus. “I think it would be best for everyone to stop listening,” she said. Former women’s basketball acting head coach Bob Starkey said he is “disappointed and disgusted” by Imus’ comments. Starkey said he recently spoke to Rutgers assistant coach Marianne Stanley about the game LSU will play at Rutgers during the next regular season. He said the Rutgers team is a “quality, first-class” program. “The joy of [their national championship appearance] is overshadowed,” Starkey said. “But adversity brings out the best in people.” Former LSU women’s basketball player Florence Williams said Imus’ comments were “very disrespectful” and his punishment was not sufficient. “It stings,” said Williams, who graduated in 2005. “It stays with me as an African-American.” Williams said she does not personally know any Rutgers players but would tell them to “keep their heads up” and not let one incident negatively influence their view of humanity. “Nappy is beautiful,” Williams said. “Black is beautiful. Those women are beautiful.” Wynton Smith, marketing junior and student worker at the African- American Cultural Center, said Imus should be fired. “I was very pissed off,” Smith said. “I couldn’t believe that in 2007 we’re still dealing with stuff like this. Even if it was a joke, it shouldn’t have been said.” Smith said the entire black community was disrespected. “I think that nobody else has nappy hair but black people,” Smith said. “It’s the only people he could be referring to. It’s demeaning and degrading to a gender and race.”
—–Contactc Amy Brittain at [email protected]