Columbia Wrestling suspended
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I saw the messages. I didn't see anything I wouldn't expect from a group of entitled kids. Definitely some crude and uncalled-for language, definitely embarrassing. But I don't see it as suspension worthy.
What would your proposed punishment be, then?
I think the suspension was completely warranted. It sends a message that this kind of speech is not tolerated. A move in the right direction for a school that has seen quite a bit of controversy as of late for how it's handled some situations
Um, these were private text messages. How'd they get out into the public?
And not condoning anything these kids were messaging, but they are censoring what kids say in private now?
And not condoning anything these kids were messaging, but they are censoring what kids say in private now?
You only saw some of the messages. The student newspaper reported that the most demeaning messages were withheld because they identified people.
That's what happens when you have crazy libs running universities. Oops someone said no politics. My bad.
I get so tired of this phony indignation. Anything that a boy/man does is inappropriate and needs to be punished in the eyes of many in academia. Next we will be hearing about how can anyone ever send their kid to Columbia. Do the people at these universities have nothing better to do than micro manage everyone?
So you don't see anything wrong with this situation at all?
My reaction to events of this nature (messages through social media that are lewd, racist, provocative) and involve noteworthy public figures (i.e. intercollegiate wrestlers) is that it puts the university/college/institution at legal risk. Witness the recent cancellation of the Harvard soccer season. In the northern suburbs of Chicago (my home) lawsuits against several school districts involving racial slurs resulted in million dollar settlements against the district. School administrators must act on these incendiary/insulting behaviors or end up in court. Intercollegiate wrestling is not immune to “predicaments” like this. It’s a rough world out there.
After reading some of the screengrabs written by the Columbia wrestlers, it’s difficult to believe these guys would have the intellectual aptitude to get into any institution of high learning, much less Columbia University. It is mind numbing to think anyone would put this stuff ‘out there’ for the entire world to see, and their name is there for everyone to see.
Suspend the whole wrestling season? Seems pretty silly. It is borderline to even suspend the kids for private messages between friends.
While this is indeed very true I would hope that as a society we act on these matters not to avoid lawsuits but because this kind of behavior is just flat out wrong
My opinion, the issue is that they used a team or group messaging platform that appears to be specifically set up for the wrestling team. If these were a bunch of guys texting each other privately, then even though the comments weren't very pleasant I don't think there is much the school could or would do about it. But if the school wrestling team set up a team or group messaging system, then it becomes more public and/or school affiliated in a sense. Might seem like a technicality to some but I can understand the schools view on this.
Want to buy some snake oil? You can take it to the safe zone and it will keep you safe. I know many are sore over the recent election, there are other forums you can cry on.
In my opinion the sensitive pansy crybabies protesting over every little thing is what woke up the rest of America. Thank god for those snowflakes.
So just to clarify there are people here who believe there was no wrong doing by any of these wrestlers involved?
I thought about saying something mean, but I'll refrain. Locker room talk isn't offensive to most.
Weird how the world of sports can affect the way people feel about each other. We talk wrestling and rivalries here but after reading this thread I've gained a whole new respect for some of you. And to give a hint as to who I'm talking about, I'll just say I'm not exactly the most politically correct person in the world.
Words and no actions shouldn't warrant a season suspension. Stupid yes, blacklisted no. I believe you were the same guy who supported some idiot for boasting about how he was going to kneel during the national anthem at the home hawk meets.
Do you remember the Minnesota athletes doing and selling drugs? Those are actions and I believe they get to wrestle after Christmas.
I am definitely not condoning hate speech or what these wrestlers did although I would like to see the content and interpretation thereof. Just saying it should be a two way street and I'm betting this is mostly about social engineering up PC street knowing the history of Columbia. What's next looking at all wrestler's twitter pages ?
Mean words on a team forum gets your entire team a suspension.
A drug ring involving a lot of the team gets only those involved a 1/2 season suspension.
That doesn't add up to me.
A drug ring involving a lot of the team gets only those involved a 1/2 season suspension.
That doesn't add up to me.
Well I'll start with the kneeling thing. You must have me confused with someone else because I don't remember saying such a thing nor do I remember A conversation about someone kneeling at a match. When you are an athlete you represent the school you are attending and are held to a high standard. Who ever is involved in this absolutely did not represent their institution in a positive manner. Now why would potential students want to attend Columbia university now knowing these are the type of people they could potentially encounter on campus? The same way those wrestlers misrepresented the Minnesota program and university, the same way a select few of Iowa wrestlers misrepresented the Iowa program and university when they went out to steal from people's garages, and the same way certain Penn State wrestlers misrepresented the PSU program and school on different instances these wrestlers have misrepresented the Columbia program and university in the way they decided to speak. the group chat appears to be one that was made for the wrestling team which I am guessing is the reason the entire program is under investigation and their season is currently suspended.
Using the N word to describe people doesn't exactly come off as anything involving being pc. This also hasn't been the first time something like this has happened as there was a Kent state wrestler who was removed from the team after making some distasteful comments on Twitter
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calling a guy that works two jobs, works until after dark taking in crops, owns a gun, goes to church, a "deplorable" is just as offensive to me as the N word. Not condoning the N word. I assure you no one was suspended for using "deplorable".
Not sure I agree , back when I was in a locker room most of what was said would have been offensive to 99% of the people out of the locker room. I hope that wasn't unusual , that was a long time ago.
I don't completely agree with the sentiment given the history of the word but I understand what you're saying. that however has nothing to do with what is going on at Columbia and why their season has been suspended
No...not unusual at all in my day. I graduated hs in 1990 so I'm sure a lot has changed in the locker room these days.
It matters if the context of the text is Columbia's interpretation of "lewd and racist" is supporting Trump or bashing Hillary and liberals. I haven't seen the context. I will believe it when I see it.
Do we want to live in a world where what is said or done amongst friends is held against them at a later date because someone kept the texts or video and gets pissed off and released them? I saw one text that was two years old. Are we punishing all 40 or so of the Columbia wrestlers for what a few guys said? Or Harvard soccer because they kept a rating system of soccer girls they'd like to get with (which ironically, was kind of how a multibillion dollar business in Facebook was created...at Harvard)?
Let me tell you that this is already happening on college campuses all over the country, politics and in the news media. It is called speech codes. It only seems to apply to certain individuals though. While I vehemently disagree with what was texted, I don't agree with what is going down. I guess I am a speech rights guy. If Trump or anybody else tries to foster that type of atmosphere...I will fight them too.
You know what's funny? The first time I heard the N-word used on a regular basis was when I moved to KC amongst my black friends. I had heard it used in racist terms before..but not very much. Right there in school though, out loud, where everybody could hear it...I was kind of shocked. One day, my buddy and a few of his friends (all black) came over to my house to play ball (I had a hoop) and I was like..."What's up n*gga?" with my hand out for a shake...Instead, I got punched in the jaw...and my buddy wasn't a small dude. I was like, "What the hell did you do that for?" I then got the "lecture"...which btw, I was good with and still am. We all played ball that day. I guess that's how things were settled back then. Thought it was a funny story.
Let me tell you that this is already happening on college campuses all over the country, politics and in the news media. It is called speech codes. It only seems to apply to certain individuals though. While I vehemently disagree with what was texted, I don't agree with what is going down. I guess I am a speech rights guy. If Trump or anybody else tries to foster that type of atmosphere...I will fight them too.
You know what's funny? The first time I heard the N-word used on a regular basis was when I moved to KC amongst my black friends. I had heard it used in racist terms before..but not very much. Right there in school though, out loud, where everybody could hear it...I was kind of shocked. One day, my buddy and a few of his friends (all black) came over to my house to play ball (I had a hoop) and I was like..."What's up n*gga?" with my hand out for a shake...Instead, I got punched in the jaw...and my buddy wasn't a small dude. I was like, "What the hell did you do that for?" I then got the "lecture"...which btw, I was good with and still am. We all played ball that day. I guess that's how things were settled back then. Thought it was a funny story.
I'm pretty sure the interpretation was what was said about women specifically and using the N word nothing else
There is none do you have one that says it has anything to do remotely with the election?
Freedom of speech or even distasteful, free speech is typically only allowed or condoned when it comes from the Radical Secular Leftists ( RASCLES) . If the speculative texts are so egregious as to merit a response, then get the team to draft an apology and post it in the school newspaper and get on with improving the minds and skill sets of these young men.
However if the issue is pushed by the RASCLES, then we need to apply this standard for other college teams. Where is the outrage for REAL ACTIONS/CRIMES committed by college athletes: rape, robbery, guns violence, domestic violence? Should college sports teams, who have team members involved in these actions, have their programs cancelled or suspended? Bring it on.
If Columbia Wrestling is another scapegoat, then a new precedent will have been set. Texts from college athletes will need to scrutinized, and other teams--in all sports!!-- will need to be held to the same level of hyper-sensitivity.
However if the issue is pushed by the RASCLES, then we need to apply this standard for other college teams. Where is the outrage for REAL ACTIONS/CRIMES committed by college athletes: rape, robbery, guns violence, domestic violence? Should college sports teams, who have team members involved in these actions, have their programs cancelled or suspended? Bring it on.
If Columbia Wrestling is another scapegoat, then a new precedent will have been set. Texts from college athletes will need to scrutinized, and other teams--in all sports!!-- will need to be held to the same level of hyper-sensitivity.
In my opinion (take if for what its worth), I think the wrestlers need to be reprimanded for their actions, but there needs to be some semblance of standardization. Does the punishment fit the crime? Perhaps, but it then needs to be applied to every situation. I haven't read any of the messages, however, I think there needs to be a universalized standard to these types of actions. Regardless of race, gender, social class if you talk demeaning (even about your own race or use derogatory terms) I think you should be held accountable.
