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Thought I would share this story because it is solid proof that history repeats itself and also illustrates the greatness of our former Dean of Student Affairs.
After the 68 Olympics, when the two black athletes raised their fists to signify black power during the playing of the national anthem, a relatively small movement of support had spread to college athletes.
Prior to one of our home games, Dr Rhatigan learned through reliable sources that two of our players were prepared to give the black power salute during the playing of the national anthem. Knowing that this act would probably end their careers at Wichita State and maybe even as students at the university, Rhatigan wanted to buy some time to let differences be worked out and voiced another way. Thus, he politely asked the band director to play the anthem while the teams were in the locker room, thus not allowing what could've been an ugly scene to arise. Few thought anything of it and the anthem was played without players on the court for many years after that, maybe until Turgeon was coach. The black athletes worked out their differences with the school and no one was the wiser. Sometimes conflict avoidance is a skill not a weakness. Dr. Rhatigan was a brilliant Dean of Student Affairs who understood how to handle heat of the moment crisis better than anyone I have seen.
After the 68 Olympics, when the two black athletes raised their fists to signify black power during the playing of the national anthem, a relatively small movement of support had spread to college athletes.
Prior to one of our home games, Dr Rhatigan learned through reliable sources that two of our players were prepared to give the black power salute during the playing of the national anthem. Knowing that this act would probably end their careers at Wichita State and maybe even as students at the university, Rhatigan wanted to buy some time to let differences be worked out and voiced another way. Thus, he politely asked the band director to play the anthem while the teams were in the locker room, thus not allowing what could've been an ugly scene to arise. Few thought anything of it and the anthem was played without players on the court for many years after that, maybe until Turgeon was coach. The black athletes worked out their differences with the school and no one was the wiser. Sometimes conflict avoidance is a skill not a weakness. Dr. Rhatigan was a brilliant Dean of Student Affairs who understood how to handle heat of the moment crisis better than anyone I have seen.
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