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Mike White of the P-G sports department blogs about high school sports. Guide to commenting | Terms of Service |
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The WPIAL has decided not to take any action against Brentwood High School or its boys basketball team for alleged racist remarks during a game against Monessen Feb. 3.
The 17-member WPIAL Board of Control had a hearing with Monessen and Brentwood Tuesday to examine claims by Monessen fans and players that Brentwood students and players used racist taunts during the game.
The WPIAL released a statement this afternoon, saying "the Board made no specific findings based upon the substantial testimony and evidence presented that any Brentwood student, student-athlete, or fan in fact used racial slurs or engaged in racially insensitive behavior. However, the Board also found that a strong perception exists within the Monessen community that Brentwood students and/or fans have engaged and/or will continue to engage in racially insensitive behavior."
Thus, the WPIAL directed principals at both schools to work together to come up with a plan that promotes sportsmanship and promotes that all individuals must be treated with respect and dignity. The plan must also "make clear to students and student-athletes that the use of racial slurs or other forms of racial intimidation at WPIAL contests will lead to their immediate ejection from a contest and perhaps other disciplinary measures."
A member of the WPIAL Board of Control will help both schools come up with the plan, which must submitted to the WPIAL by June 1.
Two Brentwood students came to the game dressed as bananas, but the students had attended many Brentwood athletic contests in the same costumes. The two students were ejected from the game and later suspended from school because they ran onto the floor near the Monessen fans.
Brentwood school officials also conducted their own investigation into the case.
The WPIAL statement said "Brentwood administrators and security officials took swift, decisive and appropriate action in addressing the limited disturbances which took place prior to, during or after the game."
The statement also said, "to their credit, both school districts expressed the desire to work proactively together, with WPIAL's assistance, to prevent any similar situations from occurring in the future and turn what has thus far been a negative experience into a positive one."

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I'm sure he didn't participate in the hearing due to conflict.
and I will repeat, the problem lies with permitting the kid in the bananna suit in the game to begin with!!!
I can see wpial with some sort of policy regarding costumes and chants coming right around the corner.