A recent kerfuffle at a college volleyball match—and the official response of the host school, Brigham Young University—has resulted in fear, confusion, anger, apologies, a flurry of news reports and opinion pieces, and a national event that will go down not just in the annals of college sports, but in our collective history of racial politics.

In this special two-part investigation, we'll recap what happened, identify the core issues at the heart of this controversy, and discuss its impact in the broader context of student discipline issues.

The Incident

The occasion was a four-team, round-robin tournament, the doTERRA Classic, which kicked off the season for the BYU women's volleyball team. The BYU Cougars were scheduled to play the Rider Broncs and the Duke Blue Devils on Friday, August 26th, and the Washington State Cougars on Saturday.

As the Duke and BYU athletes faced off in Smith Fieldhouse before a record crowd, however, a seemingly ordinary volleyball match began to devolve into what would later become a major national incident touching on topics of racism, anti-Mormonism, politics, and personal accountability.

During the match, Duke players alleged that they heard racial slurs being shouted from fans sitting in the BYU student section. One person, in particular, was said to be targeting Rachel Richardson, a Black athlete, calling her the n-word every time she served.

Richardson, who would issue a statement the next day calling the behavior “racist heckling,” spoke with her coaches. They, in turn, talked to the referees and representatives from BYU athletics.

A BYU official addressed the student section attendees. A police officer was posted near the Duke bench after Richardson claimed the heckling had escalated into actual threats. Then, after the match concluded, Duke athletes pointed out the individual they said shouted the racist terms and threats.

The Response from BYU

Citing its zero-tolerance policy for verbal harassment of a racial nature, Brigham Young swiftly banned that fan from attending any future athletic events held on the BYU campus.

It also issued an apology.

“We wholeheartedly apologize to Duke University and especially its student-athletes competing last night for what they experienced,” read the statement from BYU. “We want BYU athletic events to provide a safe environment for all and there is no place for behaviors like this in our venues.”

The Media and the Public React

Racism and college athletics are two subjects that Americans get very opinionated about, so it's no surprise that this incident took the media by storm. Richardson appeared on ESPN. News outlets all over the country reported on the story. Some accused Richardson of making the whole thing up—wouldn't someone else, a fan or a referee, or a BYU player, have heard these slurs if they were repeatedly shouted?

Richardson's godmother, Lesa Pamplin, was accused of using the publicity to pump up her judicial candidacy in Texas's Tarrant County.

More racist threats were received. More apologies were made.

And then, BYU investigated the matter, thoroughly. It unbanned the fan and apologized to him. Richardson's story started to fall apart. And public sentiment started to turn.

Look for Part II of this special report to learn how the incident devolved into a cynical commentary on the current state of race, athletics, and the “woke media” in America.

In the Meantime

If you're accused of having committed misdeeds on a college campus, whether they have to do with athletics, race, plagiarism, sexual assault, hazing, drug use, or anything else, contact Joseph D. Lento for professional legal assistance. His experience in helping college students get out of hot water, whether the charges are legit or wholly made up, is unparalleled. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us using this form to find out how we can help you.