Deadspin is reporting that Syracuse University trustee Joyce Hergenhan, went on a fan message board and ripped recently deceased former basketball player Fab Melo, for his part in the University’s cheating scandal. Hergenhan is an alumnus (’63) and has donated millions of dollars to the school. She has an auditorium in the school of communications named after her. Suffice to say she is invested in the school and is a diehard basketball fan. See the post in question that is extremely insensitive.
Several of the message board users took issue with Joyce’s post and she responded with a feigned apology and stood her ground on Melo.
Fab Melo died over the weekend so this is an extremely difficult time for his family, friends and by extension the Syracuse family. For Hergenhan to use a thread that was sharing memories about him was extremely insensitive and speaks to a larger issue within the culture of sports.
First, for Hergenhan to bring up the cheating scandal and only cite Fab as the reason the team had to vacate all its wins that season is extremely disingenuous. Fab 100% played a role by cheating, but does she honestly believe he was the only person at Syracuse involved in the scandal? Fab Melo was not a native English speaker and certainly not adequately prepared to handle college level work in a second language. So, what was he doing at Syracuse in the first place? Ah yes, he could play basketball. Well, who is responsible for that? Fab couldn’t admit himself to the prestigious University. There had to be people in power at the University that allowed this and set up the academics in such a way to try and keep him eligible. Anyone?
Hergenhan’s callous disregard for the life of a young man speaks to something else. Trustees and boosters at major Universities tend to be white, athletes in the revenue generating sports (football and basketball) are predominantly people of color. It’s funny how when these athletes of color are performing on the court or field and propping up this disgusting system of indentured servitude, trustees like Hergenhan are fully on board. But the minute these black and brown bodies outlast their usefulness and are no longer affiliated with the University in a manner acceptable, they become persona non grata. Using Fab’s death as the opportunity to show her true colors only shines a light on the seedy underbelly of humans and sports and of course society as a whole.