Allegations of Racism Probed During Mahopac-Carmel Basketball Game
For the second time in as many boys’ basketball seasons, the Mahopac Central School District is investigating charges of racial slurs used during a basketball game.
Less than a year after eight Mahopac students were suspended for racist tweets posted online directed at the Mount Vernon basketball team, Superintendent of Schools Brian Monahan sent an email to the school community acknowledging it had been reported that “racially charged language” was directed at a member of the Carmel boys’ basketball team during a game between the two schools on Jan. 7.
“The District has taken steps to initially address the situation. We are working with officials at Carmel to fully investigate this allegation,” Monahan said in the email. “Based on the results of that investigation, if additional action is warranted it will be taken. These allegations would be troubling anyplace; I know they are especially troubling to the residents of this community.”
As of Monday, the investigation is still ongoing, Monahan confirmed over email, noting that since the district has to speak with individuals that are not part of the district, “it will take some time.” According to an article in The Journal News, Monahan said action was taken against one or two students, but didn’t reveal what the punishment was.
Also, in The Journal News article, Carmel’s Deputy Superintendent Andy Irvin said the Mahopac school system has taken the allegations seriously.
Irvin said he had been told a Mahopac player used the N-word on the court several times and that Carmel school officials have requested a third referee be added to officiate the next game between the two squads set for this Wednesday, contending the last time the two teams played, a Carmel player was physically targeted on the court, according to the article.
Going back to last year’s controversy, along with the racist tweets sent out by students in the stands, the Mount Vernon school system also alleged Mahopac players directed racial slurs at some of its players during the February 2014 contest. Former Mount Vernon Interim Superintendent Judith Johnson even called for the Mahopac basketball program to be suspended for a year.
At the time, former Mahopac superintendent Thomas Manko said 35-40 people were interviewed, but no one heard Mahopac players use racial slurs and no concrete evidence could be found corroborating those claims made by the Mount Vernon school district.
Fallout from last year’s situation resulted in the resignation of former coach Kevin Downes, who is African-American and a graduate of Mahopac High School. Downes is now coaching the Yorktown high school basketball program.
“Some members of the public will connect what happened last year with this situation,” Monahan said. “We may not like it, but we have to deal with it.”
