Report: Colorado College Players Punished For Blackface

Wednesday, October 17th 2007, 10:57 am

By: News On 6

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ Four Colorado College hockey players were suspended from the team for two weeks after appearing in blackface at golf outing, The Gazette reported Wednesday.

The newspaper did not identify its source. A college spokeswoman did not immediately return a call to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

In a written statement, college President Richard Celeste said some students had ``engaged in inappropriate and offensive behavior.'' He did not identify them.

``The college took this situation very seriously and acted as quickly as possible to take substantial disciplinary action and create opportunities for dialogue,'' the statement said.

Coach Scott Owens declined to comment.

The incident occurred Sept. 8 at the team's annual preseason golf outing, The Gazette said. Groups of players chose television shows to represent, and the four who were suspended chose ``Family Matters,'' which featured a black family.

In addition to the suspensions, the players were required to meet with representatives of the NAACP and the Urban League, participate in a campus forum with members of the Black Student Union and take a class on ``diverse cultures,'' the newspaper said.

Vanessa Roberts, co-chairwoman of the Black Student Union, said the players apologized before at least 50 students on Oct. 3. She called their appearance ``helpful.''

``I know that personally, my general concern was that now that they've fulfilled the requirements of their punishment, that'll be it. Now, I'm waiting to see what happens next from their side,'' she said.

It wasn't clear whether the suspensions have been completed. Colorado College has played two games this year and has games scheduled Friday and Saturday against Minnesota in Colorado Springs.