| Greenville News
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
After the outcry over the demise of Clemson’s men’s athletics and cross country team, supporters are looking for state and federal avenues to investigate the university’s decision.
State Senator Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston and Dorchester wrote an open letter to Clemson President Jim Clements and Senate President Harvey Peeler calling on the General Assembly to investigate the team’s discontinuation.
“In my opinion, based on the current demographics of the program, cutting it out will have a generational effect on African American men,” said Kimpson’s December 30 letter.
National activist Russel Dinkins (who did not attend Clemson University but is a former college athletics player) filed a federal complaint against the university, saying the damage to athletes of color violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Dinkins declined to provide a copy of the complaint, but said it claimed that Clemson violated Title VI of the law, which prohibited discrimination based on race.
“This decision will affect a racial group in an extraordinary way. And that will result in discriminatory action so that the impact will have an adverse impact on the black student community, ”said Dinkins.
The men’s track and field team has the largest number of black athletes at Clemson who do not generate revenue, according to NCAA reports. Athletes and alumni told The Greenville News that the track and field team offers paths to higher education and professional sports for athletes from marginalized backgrounds and cutting the program blocks that opportunity for countless athletes.
Clemson University did not receive any communication about the Civil Rights complaint on Tuesday morning, according to athletics spokesman Jeff Kallin. But, Kallin said the university reaffirms its commitment to diversity and is behind its decision to discontinue the team.
Clemson hit with state investigation request, federal complaint
Kimpson said he did not know if the choice to cut the team was the right one, but as a state senator, he has a responsibility to investigate the decision after receiving “hundreds of emails and messages on social media”.
Kimpson said Clemson Athletics director Dan Radakovich was not transparent in announcing the decision to cut the team. Radakovich said a series of issues – financial, gender equality and COVID-19 – caused the team to be discontinued in June 2021.
“And although I have not investigated these reasons, the email was very light in detail,” said Kimpson.
Read the announcement here.
Supporters of the team said the university’s reasoning did not make sense to them and have continued to advocate a reversal since Radakovich announced it in November.
Kimpson said a legislative inquiry may not change the university’s decision, but South Carolinaers deserve clear answers.
“We have a duty to ask our institutions to make big decisions, without being completely transparent to members representing universities in all constituencies living in South Carolina,” he told The News and Mail.
Initial report: Clemson to cut men’s cross country athletics into ‘tough decision’
As a public land granting institution, Clemson is a state agency subject to interference from the General Assembly.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mark Land, vice president of relations at Clemson University, said the university had no comment on the matter, but would contact the senator.
Dinkins, who has successfully helped teams at Brown, William & Mary and Minnesota universities to reinstate athletics teams, said the complaint aims to increase pressure on the university, especially as it eliminates opportunities for people of color, especially black athletes.
“This decision … is unfair and, frankly, inexcusable and unacceptable. I don’t think a university should be willing to accept that cost. I mean, it is literally costing educational opportunities for people in a community that is being under-served.”
The men’s athletics team has 51 athletes, 22 of whom are black, according to the Clemson Athletics. The team has the second highest number of Pell Grants for any male team. Pell Grants are a form of federal aid to students based on need.
Dinkins said he had not heard that the Justice Department opened an investigation into Clemson, which he filed on December 30.
The former Princeton athlete said he filed the complaint on behalf of Save Clemson XCTF, a base group of 2,000 people hoping to reinstate the team. Dinkins are not being paid for their efforts, he said.
And as pressures mount from government sources, Clemson’s track and field athletes are not slowing down their quest for reintegration, Dinkins said.
“It looks like they were left out and forgotten by Clemson. I want to talk about this pain, because an intense passion is born out of that pain.”
Zoe covers Clemson – just don’t ask her about touchdowns or tackles. Find her at [email protected] or @zoenicholson_ on Twitter.