In response to the Jan. 8 letter submitted by Scott Smith following Duke's Jan. 7 game against Davidson, we would like to assert that the band's free-throw distractions are in no way racially motivated. Anyone who regularly attends games in Cameron Indoor Stadium knows that the band's free-throw distractions are solely based on the color of a player's jersey, not his or her skin. The distraction in question has been used for many years and originated from the character "Cornholio" from the MTV show "Beavis and Butthead."
The Cameron Crazies have historically been a creative body known for its sportsmanship, and the Duke University Marching Band has done nothing but promote this sentiment.
We regret if any of our actions have been misinterpreted; however, we feel that the band has been grossly misrepresented. The band is composed of talented, upstanding individuals who are dedicated to supporting Duke's athletic teams in a sportsmanlike manner, motivated by competitive spirit and nothing more.
Kristin Sourbeer
President, Duke University Marching Band
Trinity '10
John Roelofs
Vice President, Duke University Marching Band
Trinity '09
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