To the Editor:
The current situation involving the basketball player accused of domestic assault is alarming to the board of the Memphis Area Women's Council for several reasons. While the University's official position has generally been that the incident between Jeremy Hunt and his accuser did not take place on campus, and that the civil authorities will adjudicate it as necessary, we find his return to the playing floor to be inappropriate.
Jeremy Hunt no longer seems a fit representative of The University of Memphis. With widespread publicity about a tape recording of his threatening language toward his alleged victim, how can he be presented in uniform to be cheered with his teammates? He cannot stand as a proud representative while under such suspicion. To restore Hunt to full privileges indicates to the larger UM student body and community that violence toward women is not a serious act. It is striking to us to recall that any professional in law enforcement, such as local police officers and sheriff's deputies are immediately removed from duty if they are implicated in any similar accusations. Violence against women and girls is a harrowing problem in our community and in our nation. From 1998 through 2002, 13.6 percent of all homicides reported by the Memphis Police Department involved domestic violence, according to Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons. While that percentage is down to 11 so far this year, local courtrooms continue to be jammed with women seeking protection from men who beat and threaten them and, often, their children. In a culture that promulgates video games for youngsters featuring the rape and torment of females, we certainly do not need more young male role models in sports seeming to flaunt the law and decency in their treatment of their real-life girl friends, with no apparent repercussions. We applaud Dr. Shirley Raines's action in ordering three major reviews of policy related to students and crime and regarding counseling support for athletes. But as those get underway, we ask that University officials and boosters reconsider Hunt's status.
Maintain his access to classes and his financial scholarship until and unless he is convicted in this case, but take him out of the UM uniform until and unless he is cleared of these charges.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Clubb
Executive Director
Memphis Area Women's Council
901-678-2153
Related Links:
