Spring Break
The Daily Orange'Over the Hill' content troubles Gross, 4 football players
By Tim Gorman
Posted: 10/21/05, 1:30 AM EST Section: Sports
The Syracuse football team is 1-5 and, as senior linebacker Kelvin Smith says, the Orange has its hands full.
But this week, something besides improvement has been on the team's mind. Smith and most of the Orange have been preoccupied with minority issues in response to the stereotypes projected by HillTV's "Over the Hill" program.
Athletic director Daryl Gross and four football players joined hundreds of students at Hendricks Chapel to discuss the recent minority issue struggles at SU on Thursday night. Smith, Kellen Pruitt, Eugene Newsome and Thomas Whitfield each arrived at Hendricks after practice to hear the array of opinions voiced in an open speak-out.
"I found it important to come here tonight and see and hear everybody's views," Newsome said. "I was really disturbed and appalled by what I saw (in The Daily Orange on Tuesday). I was oblivious to it before then, but when I saw it, I was like, 'Are you serious?'"
Pruitt said football players have been talking about HillTV's programming this week, including during breaks at practice. Smith attended the town hall meeting Wednesday in the Schine Student Center to voice his opinion.
"As a student-athlete, I felt like everyone should know that we're part of the university, too," Smith said. "I felt it just like everybody."
At the end of practice Thursday, Pruitt and Smith encouraged some of the players to head to Hendricks. Several campus leaders spoke out against HillTV, describing in detail how they were affected by "Over the Hill."
Chancellor Nancy Cantor spoke first, announcing that HillTV had been disbanded and that a new campus television station will take its place.
Gross, who is part of Cantor's Cabinet, said he thought the move was appropriate.
"We came here supporting the decision we made," Gross said. "And as athletic director, I'm always interested in what's going on, on campus."
Gross said the athletic department will address minority issues within its teams in the coming weeks.
But this week, something besides improvement has been on the team's mind. Smith and most of the Orange have been preoccupied with minority issues in response to the stereotypes projected by HillTV's "Over the Hill" program.
Athletic director Daryl Gross and four football players joined hundreds of students at Hendricks Chapel to discuss the recent minority issue struggles at SU on Thursday night. Smith, Kellen Pruitt, Eugene Newsome and Thomas Whitfield each arrived at Hendricks after practice to hear the array of opinions voiced in an open speak-out.
"I found it important to come here tonight and see and hear everybody's views," Newsome said. "I was really disturbed and appalled by what I saw (in The Daily Orange on Tuesday). I was oblivious to it before then, but when I saw it, I was like, 'Are you serious?'"
Pruitt said football players have been talking about HillTV's programming this week, including during breaks at practice. Smith attended the town hall meeting Wednesday in the Schine Student Center to voice his opinion.
"As a student-athlete, I felt like everyone should know that we're part of the university, too," Smith said. "I felt it just like everybody."
At the end of practice Thursday, Pruitt and Smith encouraged some of the players to head to Hendricks. Several campus leaders spoke out against HillTV, describing in detail how they were affected by "Over the Hill."
Chancellor Nancy Cantor spoke first, announcing that HillTV had been disbanded and that a new campus television station will take its place.
Gross, who is part of Cantor's Cabinet, said he thought the move was appropriate.
"We came here supporting the decision we made," Gross said. "And as athletic director, I'm always interested in what's going on, on campus."
Gross said the athletic department will address minority issues within its teams in the coming weeks.
