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'I just want the racism to stop'

Ex-USF basketball player: Suit isn't personal. It's a matter of principle.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 25, 2000

TAMPA -- Tamekia Williams says her basketball career at the University of South Florida was cut short because of prevailing racism in the program and mistreatment of black players by women's coach Jerry Ann Winters.

But she's not looking for revenge.

During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Williams wanted to make one thing clear: Her lawsuit against USF and Winters isn't personal. It's a matter of principle.

"I want to see a change made," said Williams, who said she decided to forgo her final year of eligibility in 1998. "I don't want to see this racial discrimination continue going on. It was going on in 1996 when I was there. I want to see it stopped. I don't want her (Winters) fired; that's not my purpose. I just want the racism to stop for anybody else coming behind me."

Williams and former player Tanya Gary are the latest ex-USF players who have filed a federal racial discrimination lawsuit against the university and Winters. Williams played at USF from 1994-98, and Gary played from 1995-99.

Since August, four other former players -- Dione Smith, Avia Lee, Patrice Coleman and LaTonya Greer -- have filed similar suits.

"Dione had to deal with it because nothing was done when I was there," Williams said.

Flanked by their former teammates, former assistant coach Tara Gibson (who has filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission) and former women's basketball secretary Lisa Walker, Williams and Gary spoke about themes that have been echoed by all involved: segregated housing on road trips and during team meals and shoot-arounds, harsher punishment for black players than white players who committed similar offenses, and fear of retribution by Winters if anyone complained.

Gary, who is also of Filipino descent, alleges in her lawsuit that white players received better medical attention and that she was forced to undergo drug testing because Winters falsely accused her of using marijuana because she disapproved of Gary's friendship with a black teammate. Gary said she passed two drug tests.

USF athletic director Paul Griffin called Gary's allegations about medical treatment "absurd." He said students sign permission forms to undergo random drug testing, but that any special testing would not be allowed without "probable cause." Winters has repeatedly refused to comment. Despite the serious allegations, the players insisted their lawsuits aren't aimed at Winters alone.

"It's about justice," said Greer, who played from 1994-98.

"They need to fix the issue at hand," said Smith, who was dismissed from the team last spring and filed the first lawsuit. "It's like (Greer) once said, it's there and she (Winters) can't see it. I've spoken with her a couple of times on several issues and we had several meetings where I pointed it out to her and she still didn't understand. Even the girls (white teammates) ... didn't understand. I told them until you walk in my shoes, experience what I am experiencing and see the things I am seeing, you will never understand."

The university's Equal Opportunity Affairs office is investigating accusations by Smith that she was dismissed from the team this summer in retaliation for lodging complaints in a 1999 athletic department internal review.

Tampa attorney Jonathan Alpert, who is representing the former players, has often said athletic department officials sought to systematically eliminate players and staff who complained about Winters' behavior.

He said Lee, a guard on the team for the 1998-99 season, is a prime example. University officials said she was dismissed from the team because she was academically ineligible.

But Tuesday, Alpert let reporters hear a taped conversation between Winters and Lee in which Winters tells Lee she is being dismissed: "Because of your attitude. Plain and simple."

"Attitude is used as a weapon against Avia," Alpert said. "And attitude was used with Dione, too."

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