Rally in support of USC Aiken coach canceled, player shares experience
“I hear you and I am more than willing to try and work together and create a solution,” stated Andrew Stone, freshman and NSAC member closing the Town Hall meeting on Sept. 17.
Stone’s comments supporting USC Aiken’s Black students was followed soon after the cancellation of a rally in support of USCA baseball coach Kenny Thomas after controversy struck the Student Life Facebook page.
Stone and Melissa Lackey-Oremus, South Carolina House of Representatives member for the 84 district, created an event called the “I Stand With Coach T” rally. The rally was planned for Sept. 25 at the USC Aiken Convocation Center, but due to heightened controversy, Lackey-Oremus and Stone decided to cancel the event the day before and delete all posts concerning the event.
Christy Chapman Tyner reposted Stone’s flyer for the event on Facebook and stated, “I have known Kenny and Judy since they moved to Aiken. Kenny is a wonderful coach and person. I believe things have been taken out of context and the good this man has done for Aiken and his players shows his true heart. Please stand with Coach.”
Those who reposted the flyer and commented under other posts expressed their support for Kenny Thomas.
Sept. 24, Stone made a follow-up post on Facebook stating, “Although I didn’t act alone, I believe it is in the best interest of the student body to cancel this event. I still stand firm in my support of Coach, however, I see now that holding a rally wouldn’t have helped ease tensions among the students.”
There was an instant discrepancy observed by students concerning this post due to Stone’s implication that the cancellation of the event was a decision he made out of the “best interest of the student body,” while Melissa Lackey-Oremus made it apparent that the cancellation of the rally was requested.
Lackey-Oremus stated, “In light of everything, it has been asked by Kenny and other community members to cancel this Friday’s rally in his honor. Coach does not want any more division for the school or our community.” Stone stated, “I deleted (the post cancelling the rally) because I was tired of the hateful people on the Facebook group.”
Numerous students have posted concerning this event and the social media activity surrounding it to question Stone’s integrity and dedication to the student body as a representative.
In the midst of uncertainty, few players of Thomas’s have publicly spoken out regarding the incident.
Daniel Lee, redshirt junior and exercise and sports science major, felt comfortable expressing his opinions on the matter.
“[Seeing the initial post] was definitely disheartening at first. He didn’t word it the best, but I know he isn’t racist. Honestly, he just lacks understanding from [Black Lives Matter supporters]. He apologized to us as a team and he seemed sincere,” Lee said.
He continued, “He’s trying to gain a better understanding and [see a different] perspective. He wasn’t right in what he said, but he’s trying to do better. I believe he should be held accountable, but I don’t believe he should lose his job.”
Lee suggested that communication can help unify the student body on this issue, saying “[It’s important to] talk with one another and understand one another. You can support your opinions without belittling and degrading someone else’s. Communicating, understanding, and respecting one another is the only way to unite.”
