January 1, College Bans Sports Fan Over “Racist Behavior”

A Brigham Young University fan is no longer welcome at sports games after exhibiting “racist behavior” towards a Duke volleyball player.

ABC4 reported that the BYU fan repeatedly called a Duke player the N-word during a women’s volleyball game at Smith Fieldhouse.

“To say we are extremely disheartened in the actions of a small number of fans in last night’s volleyball match…is not strong enough language,” BYU Athletics said in a statement. “We will not tolerate behavior of this kind. Specifically, the use of a racial slur at any of our athletic events is absolutely unacceptable. We wholeheartedly apologize to Duke University and especially its student athletes.”

Fort Worth, Texas, resident Lesa Pamplin originally tweeted about the incident. Pamplin said the fan called her goddaughter, Rachel Richardson, the N-word every time she served. The fan also threatened Richardson, Pamplin said.

“She was threatened by a white male that told her to watch her back going to the team bus,” Pamplin tweeted. “A police officer had to be put by their bench. You allowed this racist behavior to continue without intervening. Apologizing to her parents after the fact is not enough. She will soon be sharing her story.”

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said the school is investigating the incident.

“The bottom line is that we are going to have to do more. We are going to have to be vigilant and continue to say that this is not to be tolerated in any way,” Holmoe told USA Today Sports.

Source: ABC4