Halloween weekend is a week and a half in the rearview, but the fallout from a situation in Madison continues.
During the Oct. 29 Nebraska-Wisconsin game, television cameras showed a shot of the crowd in which one fan was seen wearing a mask of President Barack Obama with a noose around his neck. The university was roundly criticized for allowing the fans involved to remain in the stadium -- and their citing of “an exercise of the individual’s right to free speech” -- although they did demand that the costume be removed. As the controversy continued to stew, UW athletic director Barry Alvarez felt compelled to issue a statement a few days later in which he described himself as “deeply troubled” and said their plan is to “have a revised policy in place” before the Badgers’ next home game.
Ahead of that game this Saturday against Illinois, UW announced Monday that it has revoked the season tickets of two groups of fans involved in the situation. The revocation impacts a total of four season tickets.
“We have not definitively identified the individuals wearing the costumes at the game, but we believe the season ticket holders are related to this situation,” a UW spokesperson said to madison.com.
“I am personally very sorry for the hurt that this incident and our response to it has caused. I have heard from students, faculty and community members who are dissatisfied with our response, and I understand why,” UW chancellor Rebecca Blank said in a statement she shared at the Nov. 7 meeting of the UW–Madison Faculty Senate. “A noose is a symbol of some of the worst forms of racial hatred and intimidation in our country’s history. We understand this and we should have communicated this more forcefully from the beginning.
“A noose displayed in this fashion has no place in Camp Randall. I understand the deeply hurtful impact this has on our students and communities of color.”
Monday night, several Badger student-athletes, including more than 20 football players, posted a statement to Twitter in which they demanded the racial inequities on the campus be addressed.
“We are loved during competition, but then subjected to racial discrimination in our everyday lives too,” a portion of the statement shared by UW running back Corey Clement, among others, began.As a student I demand change @UWMadison pic.twitter.com/f6aOKHNmRI
— Corey Clement (@CoreyClement_6) November 8, 2016
