7/29/2019 WIAA Racism

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My Letter to WIAA Mr. Anderson, Mr. Labecki, Ms. Hauser, Mr. Clark, Mr. Shafranski and Ms.

Thurwachter

For now the second year in a row I have attended the WIAA Boys Basketball Tournament in Madison.

For now the second year in a row I have listened to student sections chanting overtly racist and

demeaning chants towards opposing teams and their players. Last year it was the Germantown student

section chanting “Who’s Your Daddy?” towards Rufus King basketball players. Again this year it was the

Mukwanago student section repeating that same cheer. Last year the excuse was the chant wasn’t

“Who’s Your Daddy?” but one aimed at Luke Fisher from Germantown “Hoosier Daddy” as he had

signed a letter of intent to attend Indiana University. What’s the excuse this year? There is none for last

year or this year other than the WIAA condoning such behavior by students attending the tournament.

It’s one thing to chant “You can’t do that” in response to an opposing player committing a foul or a

turnover, it’s quite another to make racially motivated, stereotypical jeers towards opposing players. 

When will the WIAA grow a spine, announce that such behavior, taunting, cheers will not be allowed or

even tolerated?

When will the WIAA announce a new policy that in the event students chant these racist, bigoted

cheers, the game will be stopped and the student section, as a whole, will be cleared from the arena?

Willing to bet that the WIAA will do absolutely nothing! You will sit in your luxury boxes at the Kohl

Center or in the stands at arenas around the state, gloat about the “success” of the state basketball

tournament, pride yourselves on record attendance numbers, plan for next year’s tournament and

continue to place your imprimatur on the racism and bigotry exhibited by student cheering sections at

these games.

As directors and officers of the WIAA you and the entire WIAA organization should be ashamed for

allowing this behavior to be exhibited and tolerated.

THE WIAA Response:

I am able to confirm receipt of your email. I have read it.

I will not attempt to share wiaa and individual member's sportsmanship efforts with you. I accept and

respect your perspective as the truth of your feelings.

Your email will be forwarded to our member schools - whose administration has the front-line

responsibility for educating their students and teaching good sportsmanship.

7/29/2019 WIAA Racism

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Thank you for attending the state high school basketball tournament. I regret that you found some of 

the student cheers to be offensive and if they diminished your tournament experience.

Sincerely,

Dave Anderson

Executive Director Wiaa

Here are all the the e-mails of the WIAA leadership:

'tclark@wiaawi.org'; 'danderson@wiaawi.org'; 'dhauser@wiaawi.org'; 'wlabecki@wiaawi.org';

'tshafranski@wiaawi.org'; 'mthurwachter@wiaawi.org

http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/socialresponsibility/news/newsid=1384919/index.html