Scott Radley: McMaster University faces more allegations of racism in its athletics program

It's hard not to be shocked by the allegations of racism on and around McMaster's football team that have been levelled by former players in the past couple days.

Toronto Argonaut - and former Marauder - Fabion Foote got things started when he responded to a recent social media video posted by the school acknowledging the institution had a lot of work to do on racism.

We still have work to do? LOL," he posted. Y'all never started s--t to begin with."

He then outlined a series of racist incidents he says were directed at him or he heard about between 2013 and 2016 while he was a Marauder (more of them near the end of his time there, he says) which he claims the school never took seriously.

From there, it's become a fast-spreading brush fire. Other Black alumni expressed they have had similar experiences. Demands have been made for firings. Former athletics director Glen Grunwald posted a note on Twitter saying that while a student-athlete who used a racial epithet was disciplined and a few other steps were taken to address the situation, more should have been done, for which he apologized.

On Monday - around the time Foote was telling a national TV audience on TSN that McMaster pretty much hindered Black athletes" - the school's associate vice-president and dean of students announced an investigation was being launched to look into the experiences of Black student athletes.

The review, which will be led by an external adviser, will explore to what extent racist beliefs, comments, and behaviours have been present within Marauder Athletics and document the impact that this has had on current and former student-athletes," wrote Sean Van Koughnett.

If this sounds vaguely familiar, it should. This is the second high-profile investigation into race and racist behaviour the school has been forced to undertake in the athletics department in a matter of weeks. Earlier in June, a lacrosse player posted racist comments on social media which spurred an examination by the school's Equity and Inclusion Department (the head of the department says that one has been completed but won't discuss the outcome as complaint investigations are confidential).

Foote says 15 or more former football players will be submitting reports outlining incidents. This is significant. One or two and some might say we're talking about a disgruntled former player or a misunderstanding of some kind. But 15?

As for the things they say happened, we shouldn't be shocked that it could take place but we might be surprised that it happened at McMaster.

University campuses are among the most liberal, politically correct places in our society. Of all the places you'd hope people would know better - particularly among those in an age group that has grown up with full awareness of what you don't say and why you don't say it - it's here.

Just so we're clear, we're not talking about the kind of picayune complaints that emerge from campuses with some regularity now whenever someone's delicate views are challenged or someone's self-esteem is slightly pricked. Learning to deal with those things is supposed to be part of the growing-up process that comes from leaving home and going to a post-secondary institution.

Being called a monkey or a gorilla is not that. Foote says that happened. Having the N' word (actually, a derivative of it with some offensive adjectives thrown in) dropped in a group chat is not that. Grunwald says that was confirmed to him in his investigation that led to the player being disciplined.

This stuff shouldn't happen. It's wrong. Period.

Sports teams' dressing rooms are generally the most racially diverse places you'll find where people of all backgrounds converge. Black and white, rich and poor, they all work together, then celebrate or commiserate together. Sure there are cultural differences - not everyone loves everyone else's music, for example - but in this environment, common goals usually melt all tones of skin into the colour of the team uniform.

Yet, several former players say it did happen here.

Leave aside for a moment the damage this is doing to the McMaster brand. The story has now been picked up across the country. You can be sure that in the eyes of some recruits, the maroon M is now smudged. But that's secondary.

The real shame is that a number of Black players have quite obviously been hurt. Meanwhile, many other non-Black people involved with the football program who are innocent and far from racist are being caught up in this. All because a few people allegedly smart and worldly enough to go to university - or work there - aren't aware this stuff isn't acceptable.

How difficult is this to grasp? Honestly? Treat people properly. Don't single them out or belittle them or treat them like crap because they're different than you. Don't say things you know will cause offence. Especially (but not exclusively) to your teammates or players who you so often refer to as your family.

People on a university campus - some young men and grown men alike - can't figure this out? Really?

Stef Ptaszek (who's now in his second stint as head coach after three years away) says he talked to Foote for half an hour this week and believes his former player was right to bring this all up. He says he supports the school's investigation and hopes to learn from these experiences so things can be better for future players.

I'm very happy that he's trying to make his alma mater better than he remembers it."

Scott Radley is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sradley@thespec.com