[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H3492-H3494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S
BASKETBALL TEAM
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 300) commending the achievements of the Rutgers
University women's basketball team and applauding the character and
integrity of their student-athletes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 300
Whereas under head coach C. Vivian Stringer the Rutgers
University Scarlet Knights women's basketball team finished
their extraordinary 2006-2007 season with a 27-9 record;
Whereas after losing four of their first six games the Lady
Knights refused to give up and spent their Winter Break in
the gym honing their skills and working to become a better
team for the rest the season;
Whereas on March 6, 2007, Rutgers upset top-seeded
University of Connecticut for their first-ever Big East
Championship title;
Whereas the young women displayed great talent in their run
to the Final Four of the women's National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) tournament;
Whereas five freshmen played an integral role in the team's
march to the championship game;
Whereas the Lady Knights showed enormous composure with
tournament wins against teams playing in their home States;
Whereas through hard work and determination this young team
fought through improbable odds to reach the NCAA title game;
Whereas the team was just the 3d number 4 seed in history
to reach the championship;
Whereas the Lady Knights made school history as the first
athletic team from Rutgers to play for any national
championship;
Whereas during those 3 weeks, the Scarlet Knights brought
excitement to the NCAA tournament and captured the hearts of
basketball fans throughout New Jersey and across the Nation;
Whereas Rutgers students, alumni, faculty, and staff, along
with countless New Jerseyans are immensely proud of what the
team accomplished this past season;
Whereas the members of the team are excellent
representatives of Rutgers University and of the State of New
Jersey;
Whereas these young women are outstanding individuals who
are striving to reach lifetime goals both on and off the
basketball court;
Whereas the Lady Knights epitomize the term student-athlete
with a combined B+ grade point average;
Whereas by excelling in academics, music, and community
service, Katie Adams, Matee Ajavon, Essence Carson, Dee Dee
Jernigan, Rashidat Junaid, Myia McCurdy, Epiphanny Prince,
Judith Brittany Ray, Kia Vaughn, and Heather Zurich are great
role models for young women across the Nation; and
Whereas the Lady Knights embody integrity, leadership and
class: Now therefore be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the amazing performance of Rutgers University
women's basketball team in the NCAA tournament; and
(2) expresses its admiration for the achievements and
character of this team of remarkable young women;
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have
5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to
H.R. 300 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, as a representative from New Jersey, I am
pleased to rise here in the United States House of Representatives to
praise the remarkable young women of Rutgers University, the Rutgers
women's basketball team, the Scarlet Knights, and their inspiration,
Coach C. Vivian Stringer. They are true champions, not only for their
academic and athletic achievement, but for the dignity, strength and
class they have shown during this ordeal.
These 10 young women overcame disappointing losses early in the
season to advance amazingly to the Final Four. They lost four out of
their first seven games. But around the Nation, fans watched as the
Scarlet Knights of Rutgers, who lost four of their first seven games,
defeated Duke's Blue Devils in the last seconds in an exciting 53-52
upset, the same team that had lost to Duke by 20 points earlier in the
season. This victory followed a lopsided defeat of the very strong LSU
women's team by a 59-35 score.
When the ugly incident with Don Imus on his morning show cast a
shadow over their success, these young women showed what they are made
of. In standing up for themselves and their school, they also made a
stand on behalf of all young women who insist on being treated with
respect and refused to be insulted, as Don Imus did to them, and
stereotyped, as he used these disparaging words to describe these
wonderful young women.
{time} 1130
Don Imus and those of his ilk vastly underestimated New Jersey's
strong and proud Scarlet Knights. He underestimated the pride we in New
Jersey feel in the remarkable women of this remarkable team. As a
matter of fact, during the 13 original States, New Jersey had a theme,
and it just said: Do not tread on us. And that meant we are a proud,
small State, but do not mess with us. Don Imus did not know the history
of New Jersey.
Don Imus may have had a microphone, but he was no match for these
young women and their coach who so eloquently spoke up for what is
right and what is fair. I am so proud that through their action they
were able to persuade two major networks, MSNBC and CBS, as well as
numerous advertisers that the days of using the public airwaves to
ridicule and debase anyone they choose are over. He did not realize
that these women, as I said, at that initial press conference, that
they had, with the 10 of them, all underclass persons, dressed in their
uniforms, sitting up proud, people who will be future
[[Page H3493]]
lawyers and musicians, all top students. As they spoke, as they
introduced themselves, it was just a joy, and so Don Imus really did a
favor to these young women because it gave America a chance to put a
face with a name, to listen to what he said and what he called them and
to see just the quality of these young people.
Let me add that it is time that the Federal Communications Commission
start doing its job by halting the use of racial and gender slurs over
the public airwaves. As long as there is weak enforcement, there will
continue to be hate language used by the so-called shock jocks.
As a matter of fact, there was a great outcry when at the Super Bowl
there was an indecent of exposure, and there were fines levied because
there was some equipment failure, and therefore, there was an outrage
of indecency.
However, it is allowed for people to say whatever they want to say.
As a matter of fact, in countries, radio has been used to foster hate.
As in Rwanda, it was hate radio, Radio Colline, that went on to say,
let us get this genocide going; you know what those people look like,
go and get them. And it was the radio that pushed this, and so we have
to be careful about what we allow to happen on the airwaves. History
has shown us that words matter, and when society accepts ugly language,
ugly incidents will follow.
I call on the networks to examine their record of hiring minorities
for top on-air and executive positions so that African Americans are
fairly represented in the media. One reason that the networks made the
decision to discontinue the Imus show was that the network employees
let the management know how disturbed and offended and embarrassed they
were to work for that company. That was the overriding factor, and then
the sponsors said that they would withdraw their sponsorship.
And so we will not allow these demeaning commentaries to continue. I
once again applaud those young women and their fine coach from the
Scarlet Knights at Rutgers University.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution to honor the
women's basketball team at Rutgers University for their incredible
accomplishments on the court, as well as their courage and integrity
off the court.
Led by head coach Vivian Stringer, the Scarlet Knights won their
first ever Big East conference tournament championship this year and
advanced to the national championship in Cleveland just 2 weeks ago.
Though they lost that game to the University of Tennessee, these young
women made the 2006-2007 season one to remember for Rutgers students,
alumni and fans.
Unfortunately, just hours after the national championship game, they
were confronted with some disheartening comments by a radio
personality. Throughout all the media coverage that followed these
comments, these young women handled themselves with an impressive
amount of integrity, with grace and with strong character. As a result,
it is their accomplishments on the court, not the comments off the
court, for which they should and will be remembered.
Mr. Speaker, the Rutgers University women's basketball team is
comprised of student athletes in the truest sense. They have an
impressive collective grade point average, a solid selection of majors
and a record in the classroom that matches their great work on the
hardwood. On the court, these young women have dedicated themselves to
improving and honing their skills through many hours of practice both
during the school year and during academic recesses.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Scarlet Knights on these
accomplishments and wish them the best of luck in all they will take on
in the future, and again, I am pleased to honor these young women
through this resolution. I believe they have set an example from which
many other collegiate athletes can learn.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New Jersey, from the Sixth District (Mr. Pallone) whose
district is the New Brunswick Rutgers. Newark Rutgers is in my
district, and I know Camden Rutgers is in your district, Mr. Speaker.
So we yield to the gentleman.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend Donald Payne for
the introduction and for the comments that he made.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to be the sponsor of this resolution
honoring the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights women's basketball
team, and I applaud their character and integrity. These remarkable
young women are a class act, and I am proud to represent them and
Rutgers University here in Congress.
Rutgers had a Cinderella season that saw them come back from some
devastating early season losses, including a 40-point loss to Duke
University. In fact, after losing four of their first six games, the
Scarlet Knights refused to give up and spent their winter break in the
gym honing their skills and working to become a better team for the
rest of the season.
Under head coach V. Vivian Stringer, the Scarlet Knights finished
their extraordinary season with a 27-9 record. To cap it off, Rutgers
upset top-seeded University of Connecticut for their first ever Big
East championship title. They had lost to UConn twice in the regular
season.
During the NCAA tournament, they upset top-seeded Duke University in
the second round and remained poised with wins against teams playing in
their home States. The team brought excitement to the tournament and
captured the hearts of basketball fans throughout New Jersey and across
the Nation. Through hard work and determination, this young team fought
through improbable odds to reach their first ever NCAA title game.
A day after their loss, outrageous comments were made about the team
by Don Imus on his CBS radio and MSNBC show. Afterwards, the team
showed great courage in choosing to meet with him so he could see
firsthand how wrong his sexist and racist comments were. During this
emotionally and mentally exhausting ordeal, these remarkable young
women maintained enormous composure as they became media headlines for
controversy.
The Scarlet Knights women basketball players are excellent
representatives of Rutgers University and of the State of New Jersey.
By striving to reach lifetime goals, both on and off the basketball
court, they are great role models for student athletes across the
Nation. Even with a grueling sports schedule, the players have managed
their priorities well. They have maintained academic excellence with a
combined B-plus grade point average and are actively involved in the
community.
Mr. Speaker, these women are the future leaders of tomorrow. Last
week, when faced with adversity, they proved their promise when they
stood in front of the entire Nation with dignity and grace.
I think I can speak for Rutgers students, alumni, faculty and staff
along with my colleagues here and countless New Jerseyans when I say,
we are immensely proud of this team. They deserve to be honored for
their hard work, dedication and heart.
I am hopeful that my colleagues will recognize these fine women by
passing this resolution today.
{time} 1140
Mr. PAYNE. Does the gentleman from California have any further
speakers?
Mr. McKEON. We have no more speakers. Do you have any?
Mr. PAYNE. We have no additional speakers.
Let me conclude by thanking the gentleman from California and
thanking my colleague from New Jersey. We commend the young Scarlet
Knights for the outstanding job that they did.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 300, which congratulates the Rutgers University Women's Basketball
Team, coached by the incomparable C. Vivian Stringer, on their
extraordinary basketball achievements and applauds their character and
integrity as student-athletes. The Rutgers Lady Scarlet Knights women's
basketball team embodies all that is great about women's sports:
intelligence, toughness, tenacity, leadership and, most of all, class.
The Lady Scarlet Knights also showed the power of athletics in
unifying a community, be it Rutgers University, the entire state of New
Jersey, or the United States.
[[Page H3494]]
That is why it was so disheartening that certain individuals would
take this occasion to utter a few disgusting and divisive comments. I
strongly condemned those words. There is absolutely no excuse for that
kind of conduct, and Don Imus was right to apologize.
What we must do now is address this situation as a country. We must
start a dialogue that not only helps to heal the wounds that this type
of hateful language renews, but also brings us to a better place as a
society.
The Rutgers women's basketball team has been a great inspiration to
all of us in this country. These young women are some of the best our
country has to offer, and they set an example for girls all across New
Jersey and the United States.
The Lady Scarlet Knights completed a dream season, making it all the
way to the national championship game where they fell to the Lady Vols
(34-3) of the University of Tennessee. The Scarlet Knights (27-9) were
appearing in their first-ever championship contest. They made it to the
championship game by winning eight consecutive games, including the Big
East Conference Tournament and the championship of the Greensboro
Regional.
The Lady Scarlet Knights are champions. Congratulations to C. Vivian
Stringer, her coaching staff and her exceptional basketball team.
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the chorus of voices in
commending the achievements of the Rutgers University women's
basketball team and applauding the character and integrity of their
student-athletes in the face of unmitigated outrage and public
humiliation.
This is to thank these young women--and their coach--for the life
lessons they taught all of us, both on and off the basketball court.
Their stoic dignity and remarkable grace under tremendous pressure and
embarrassment were nothing short of a central moment in our national
life.
I may be the only one who didn't listen to Don Imus' radio show--I've
never been a fan of talk radio, particularly talk radio that exists to
exacerbate the pathology of hate speech among us that pointedly seeks
to diminish our fellow citizens because of race or gender.
Many people find that funny. I don't . . . and submit that if
something is truly funny, everybody laughs. When an audience sucks in
their breath in horror, they are not amused.
Free speech? Of course it is, and anybody in this country can say
anything they want to, anytime they wish, and they can be as hateful or
mean as they choose to be. But, Imus' show went out over the public
airwaves--owned by all of us--and was supported by advertisers at MSNBC
and CBS. Free speech does not mean you can hurt people over the public
airwaves, and it does not mean advertisers must continue to support
that hateful speech. So let us not blur the issue on that.
The young ladies of the Rutgers women's basketball team overcame all
the odds to get to the final game of the NCAA women's championship, and
they came heartbreakingly close to winning the national championship.
Their grace and extraordinary sportsmanship was first evident at that
game and afterwards . . . then under the glare of the national
spotlight as objects of Imus' cruel ridicule.
It is important to note here that it was the advertisers on Imus'
show that showed the most backbone in pulling their ads, essentially
saying: our consumers don't appreciate this, goodbye. Had they not
pulled their ads, Imus would have completed the familiar cycle of
apology and continued ridicule of women and minorities in the name of
humor.
The advertisers could not help but be moved by the image of these
student athletes calmly relating how the words that hurt so much
affected them. Their quiet dignity moved this nation--and was the exact
opposite image of a shock jock trying mightily to hold onto a job so he
could continue to make fun of them and many other minorities.
I thank these young women--and the leadership of their coach--in
teaching all of us a lesson in how this nation treats all our citizens,
how we use the public airwaves, and the power of consumers with
advertisers in winnowing out that which is hateful entertainment.
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the Rutgers women's
basketball team for making all New Jerseyans proud through their
athletic and academic achievements, as well as through the
intelligence, dignity, and class that they showed in response to
hateful, racist, and sexist remarks made about and against them. As one
of two Members of Congress who represents Rutgers University here in
Congress, I would like to pay tribute to them.
The Scarlet Knights had a remarkable season, winning 27 games on
their way to the national championship game. The Big East Champions
played hard and displayed all the attributes of a championship team--
hustle, dedication, skill, and teamwork. But what distinguished this
team most, in my opinion, is not what happened during the season, but
after it.
It is unfortunate that the end of this amazing season was marked not
by a celebration of their achievements on the basketball court and in
the classroom, but by ignorant, racist, and sexist remarks by a radio
personality. The players and coaches were understandably hurt and
angry, and their reaction to these hateful words shows why all New
Jerseyans deserve to be proud.
The players and Coach Vivian Stringer reacted with restraint,
eloquence, and dignity. They engaged with the person who had insulted
them. They told their personal views of why his words were so hurtful
and inappropriate, and they accepted his apology. I hope that this
incident will lead to a broader dialogue about race relations in this
country. I look forward to working with community and religious
leaders, elected officials, and others in New Jersey to foster an
atmosphere where such comments are not only condemned, but do not
happen in the first place.
We hold up college athletics not for the entertainment of alumni and
fans, but because we believe athletic participation builds character.
These women of the Rutgers basketball team showed that they have
character.
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate
the Rutgers University women's basketball team on their outstanding
2006-2007 season.
As highlighted in this resolution, the Lady Knights sacrificed their
own personal vacations over winter break to stay at school and train
for their well-deserved victories in 2007.
It is this dedication that gained them the Big East Championship
title and a spot in the women's NCAA final four. It also made them the
very first athletic team from Rutgers to earn a spot playing in a
national championship. Their hard work, perseverance, and extraordinary
skill have set an excellent example for athletes everywhere: women and
men alike. And, as the national media spotlight turned on them in the
wake of the ugly remarks by radio shock jock Don Imus, they maintained
the same poise and grace under pressure that they exhibited on the
court.
I would especially like to extend my congratulations to sophomore,
Heather Zurich of Montvale, New Jersey. Her performance with the Lady
Knights as forward was an integral component to the team's success this
season.
The Rutgers University women's basketball team is a great source of
pride to their campus and all of us New Jerseyans. I applaud their
accomplishments and look forward to hearing of their future successes.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 300.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
____________________