Probe Finds No Racist Comments At Game: Scarsdale School Officials

SCARSDALE, NY — Scarsdale district officials said their investigation into allegations of racist comments against East Ramapo players during a charity basketball game Saturday had turned up no evidence of derogatory or racially charged remarks of any kind.

"As you might imagine, each school district is responsible for conducting their own investigations into the events, so I can only speak for Scarsdale at this moment in time, though I know Mr. Russo and the East Ramapo folks are working hard to complete theirs," Superintendent Drew Patrick said Tuesday. "At the time the joint statement was made, no evidence of any derogatory or racially charged remarks of any kind was identified. From our standpoint, we do not believe that there were any remarks or statements made of the kind reported. I am grateful to Mr. Russo and Dr. Ellis for their partnership and communication around this matter, and we all must respect the time they need to complete their inquiry."

Patch has reached out to East Ramapo for comment.

The Raiders for Research event at Scarsdale High School was a partnership with the athletic department, and specifically, the boys’ and girls’ basketball programs, and Scarsdale High School’s Breast Cancer Awareness Club to raise awareness and funds to support cancer research.

Late in the 4th quarter of a game between the varsity girls teams, the East Ramapo coach stopped the game and reported that during the game, racially charged comments from the stands were directed at his players.

"The game ended, the East Ramapo players left Scarsdale feeling dejected and disrespected, and a day intended to bring communities together for a common purpose was tainted. Our athletic departments are working hard to be as inclusive as possible, and we are committed to providing all students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying. We were saddened by this outcome," Greg Russo, East Ramapo's District Director of Health, Physical Education, & Athletics, and Ray Pappalardi, Scarsdale's Athletic Director, said in a joint statement Monday.

The ADs' statement continued:

As with any concern of this sort, we are committed to partnering together to investigate the event and carry out appropriate restorative actions, consistent with Section 1 policies, our Codes of Conduct, and Board of Education policies. The investigation of this event began soon after the report was made, and has included reviews of the game video, and gathering of accounts from staff, student-athletes, spectators, referees, and the athletic administrations in East Ramapo and Scarsdale. So far, this review has not identified a specific individual or group who engaged in any inappropriate conduct. Despite the absence of specific information, we view any act against the dignity of any student-athlete as unacceptable. I know that the Scarsdale and East Ramapo communities join us in denouncing all acts of hate.

As always, we stand in support of all student-athletes, our players, our communities, and the broader school environments, in which diversity is honored and all individuals are respected, and will appropriately address any behaviors that are inconsistent with this. We look forward to continued dialogue as we find ways to support all of our student-athletes. We are hopeful to work toward a solution that is restorative for all involved.

On Tuesday morning, as accusations swirled and politicians weighed in, Dr. Patrick wrote a letter to the Scarsdale community:

I am writing to provide clear and direct information related to last Saturday’s Girls Varsity B basketball game against East Ramapo. Unfortunately, recent media reports are painting an inaccurate picture of what transpired, so I would like our community to hear an account of the event from me, and an update on where things stand.
First, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved in the recent Raiders for Research event. The collaboration between the athletic department, particularly the boys' and girls' basketball teams, and Scarsdale High School’s Breast Cancer Awareness Club, was instrumental in raising awareness and support for cancer research. Each of our basketball teams participated, with games spanning from 9 AM to nearly 9 PM. The event exceeded the fundraising target, raising $2,062 for the V Foundation. Congratulations to the players, coaches, and families that played a role in this great event.
Unfortunately, in the final moments of the 3:00 PM Varsity B Girls’ Basketball Game against East Ramapo, the opposing coach reported that his players were subjected to racially charged comments from a spectator or spectators. Our commitment to belonging and a safe, supportive environment for all students—free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, and bullying—compels us to investigate all such reports. That investigation was ably led by our Athletic Director, Ray Pappalardi, and I’m happy to report that our investigation did not corroborate that there were any such comments made. While East Ramapo’s administration is still completing their side of the investigation, their Athletic Director joined Ray in issuing a joint statement yesterday that conveyed this conclusion.
Despite this, the news media has decided to report this incident as if it has been confirmed and verified as having occurred--a factually baseless and untrue assertion. While we are absolutely committed to providing a safe environment for our students and visitors alike, we must also be clear when we are wrongly accused of failing to do so. Importantly, the administrators from East Ramapo have not yet completed their side of the investigation, making the news reports even more problematic. Ray and I have each been in contact with our counterparts there, and we know that they seek the same positive experience for their student-athletes as we do. We look forward to the completion of their investigation, ideally by the end of this week. We will report any relevant updates or additional information, as appropriate, once that has been completed.
In closing, we remain steadfast in our support of our players, our community, and a school environment that celebrates diversity and mutual respect. We are proud of how our athletes conducted themselves this weekend, and congratulate them. Our students will continue to meet or exceed the high expectations we have for them, and we will all remain committed to fostering a welcoming, competitive athletic environment for all of our guests.
Sincerely,
Dr. Drew Patrick
Superintendent