New Haven Independent

Posted by: citizen | August 6, 2009 9:42 AM

What a terrible thing to happen to these kids they work hard. Hope all works well for this Drill Team.

Posted by: Walt | August 6, 2009 10:05 AM

Why does not Bethea call the Pres to complain so Obama can call someone else stupid, goofing up again.

Then maybe Obama , to avoid an apology will invite them all plus the hotel guy to the White House for beer and soft drinks.

Must we the taxpayers pay for air fare and hotels as well as beverages, or are they on their own tab?

Be sure to get Michelle's OK before the kids demonstrate their skills, as a second eviction would be very embarrassing.

(Congrats to the team. As said earlier, even the local school folk in the St. Pat's Parade looked pretty good this year, perhaps because of the Nation group's fine example.)

Posted by: City Hall Watch | August 6, 2009 10:16 AM

I don't believe the drill team's version of events. This sounds like a bunch of kids who were at times, out of control and probably disrespectful. It is inconceivable the hotel would withhold either toilet paper or room service. Toilet paper is routinely replenished daily by the maid service; and the hotel makes a lot of money on room service. It is far too easy to sling racial charges around when the problem most likely is a behavior issue. In any case, it reflects poorly on this group in particular and on New Haven in general.

Posted by: Tim | August 6, 2009 10:23 AM

"It all boils down to, they had 48 black people in their hotel and they did not like it," Bethea said. The hotel denied that charge.

Why does it have to be about race? If the hotel did get noise complaints thats a valid reason to kick them out. I am getting sick of everything that happens, must be because of race.

Posted by: teacher man | August 6, 2009 10:40 AM

Were these "48 black people" creating unreasonable noise for after midnight, running around the halls and keeping people from getting rest?
when i was 17, my group of mostly white kids were unceremoniously thrown out of a hotel in boston because we were loud and had no concern for the other guests, and only when we were punished by our principal did we give a crap.
35 kids are hard to keep in order. if the hotel did anything wrong it was that they should have given the group it's own floor / wing knowing that teens are teens - whatever their racial make up - and tend to be loud in groups. ever been on a city bus when 10 high school kids get on? ever been to the old chapel sq. mall when school got out? saturday afternoon movie? it happens.
and, kansas city has a racial make up much like new haven, it's a great city, and if you go to any hotel in any big city, and look at the racial make up of guests, i bet most of the guests are white. that doesn't make them racists.

Posted by: Hew Naven?? | August 6, 2009 10:49 AM

"It is far too easy to sling racial charges around"

City Hall Watch,

Do you really think it's easy to go public with an embarrassing story of racial discrimination. I think it took courage to come forward with the details of this story, don't you? Or do you think maybe they just wanted attention since it's so "easy to sling racial charges around."

To all those who agree with City Hall Watch, try to be a little more empathetic. Try to imagine for one second what it must feel like to be told you're not welcome because of the color of your skin. Before you react just try this exercise. I guarantee it will be an unpleasant simulation.

Posted by: ceo; doug bethea | August 6, 2009 11:01 AM

If you were not there 2 experience what happened you should not make a negative comment. These arre kids that have been apart of this program for over 5 years a piece and follows rules and regulations of hotels. This problem has never happened before because are kids are trained with respect and to respect them and others. Like I said before when the police came up it was adults in thew room talkin 2 kids on their wway 2 college so to the ppl making negative comments about this being about race we didn't make this about racr they did based on their actions from day 1. No situation should give anyone the right to kick out children and put them on streets @ 1;30 in the morning. And to show u it wasn't about race we have videos and pictures that will be soon uploaded to show you the cops actions toward us...and for those who support the positive things that these inner city youth do we appreciate your support..and the ones with negative comments you should keep your mouth shut..

Posted by: robn | August 6, 2009 11:07 AM

"Bernard, I want you to know... that I try. When Jean and the kids at the school tell me that I'm supposed to control my violent temper, and be passive and nonviolent like they are, I try. I really try. Though when I see this girl... of such a beautiful spirit... so degraded... and this boy... that I love... sprawled out by this big ape here... and this little girl, who is so special to us we call her "God's little gift of sunshine"... and I think of the number of years that she's going to have to carry in her memory... the savagery of this idiotic moment of yours... I just go BERSERK!" Quote from the Film Billy Jack

Posted by: FREEDOM OF THE PEOPLE | August 6, 2009 11:11 AM

You would be foolish to think Kansas City is reformed in their thinking. There is no excuse for what was said to those youth. Secondly if the kids were that loud they would have probably been evicted earlier than they were. It is about race the reason why you work for minimum wage started because of race the reason why the black youth needed the experience is because of their race. America was created on the basis of white supremecy and a non acceptance for people who were not just a different color but who did'nt think like an oppressesed victim good job for standing up drill team if you don't noone in this racist country will. People who are moderate in their ways say racism does'nt exist those people can't even define it! and southerners engage in the thinking and behavior and have been forever. they slaves were'nt freed by lincoln for equality it was a benefit to the white collective northern industialist and southern farmers. History history his-story

Posted by: nfjanette | August 6, 2009 11:18 AM

"It is far too easy to sling racial charges around"

City Hall Watch,

Do you really think it's easy to go public with an embarrassing story of racial discrimination. I think it took courage to come forward with the details of this story, don't you?

No, I think it's far easier to play the race card than to accept responsibility for mistakes. What a shame this happened to the kids - but where to place the blame is far from clear according to this report.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | August 6, 2009 11:25 AM

Hey Tim if it is not about Race Explain this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLAfmt68OSA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enowpublic%2Ecom%2Fworld%2Fracism%2D2009%2Dblack%2Dkids%2Dkicked%2Dout%2Dphilly%2Dpool&feature=player_embedded

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Black_workers_say_drinking_fountains_bathrooms_segregated_at_city_facility.html?viewAll=y

Ask yourself Tim,How does this happen in the same state?

Posted by: notimon | August 6, 2009 11:34 AM

I am tired of white people telling us we always pull the race card. Look, it is what it is, being black in amerikkka is not easy. We are still looked at as underclass. We hear the same response from whites and that is we are pulling the race card, wake up we have race issues in Amerikkka and have always had this problem. I am black and have experienced racism on numerous occassions, now just think, these kids have been in other cities before and never a problem, why all of a sudden Kansas. To the person that said maybe they should tell the president and sit down with him and have beer and soft drink, well yeah I would tell the president, dougie make sure you go national with this, let the world know what happen and stand your ground. Tire of the bull crap we endure at the hands of a white man. Am I racist no, dammit I am mad.

Posted by: City Hall Watch | August 6, 2009 11:41 AM

Hew Haven??

Don't think for one minute that I don't know about rascism or racial profiling because of what I post here. My family and extended family has been victimized by it as recently as this summer. I know it when I see it and I know it when I read about it. Hardly ever is it as blatantly announced with words like "monkey" and the like. I also know what happens when a large group of kids with a shortage of quality adult supervision goes on overnight trips. As a hotel guest, I've witnessed it and found that it has nothing to do with the color of skin. It has everything to do with the adults in charge.

My child has gone on several trips with New Haven school associated programs, the leaders of which made it clear what behavior was acceptable and what was not and made it clear to parents as well including what would happen if our child violated those rules. There were no problems. In a racially diverse city like KC, that a well known name brand hotel would practice such levels of hostility to African American students is just not believable.

Posted by: teacher man | August 6, 2009 12:18 PM

Mr. Betha, three questions.

1 - were you in fact warned about excessive noise and misbehavior of your charges?
2 - why were children going to fight or"do whatever they had to to survive" with a person in a bar (where there is liquor)?
3 - y don't u use ful wrds in ur post?

Posted by: Enough is Enough | August 6, 2009 12:47 PM

City Hall Watch,

...

"This sounds like a bunch of kids who were at times, out of control and probably disrespectful'

WHY BECAUSE THEIR BLACK? You decide to side with the hotels version on what occurred and that's fine as I decide to side with the team. HOWEVER don't judge them because YOU DO NOT KNOW THEM nor were YOU THERE. One side say's kids were sleeping and only a few were up at the time where the other side says differently. FACT BEING because there isn't to MANY FACTS in this case only what one side is saying versus the other DO NOT GO OUT ON a limp and say "this group sounds like their out of control"
...

Posted by: john | August 6, 2009 12:50 PM

Whose story do we believe? When I first moved to New Haven several years ago, I would have thought the kids were, hands down, being unfairly discriminated against and that the charges of racism were well founded.

However, experience has taught that there is a prevailing tendency to resort to race-baiting when in fact a genuine wrong has been done.

NOW, that said, it remains possible that the students were wronged. I just think it's sad that my experiences in New Haven has made me doubt their credibility.

Posted by: robn | August 6, 2009 12:56 PM

Its too bad that this went this far, but I have to partially agree with TEACHERMAN that kids in groups having a good time are noisy. I was a kid once and I was noisy, escpecially on trips. The hotel should have had the foresight to put a the large group on a single floor with a buffer room around them for acoustic purposes. Hotels are seldom 100% occupied so this would have been easy. On the other hand, noise in hallways can't be controlled. Its a bummer that this went this far.

Posted by: new haven | August 6, 2009 1:16 PM

Whites get blame for evrything blame the people who were thrown out of the hotel.

Posted by: Hew Naven?? | August 6, 2009 1:30 PM

"In a racially diverse city like KC, that a well known name brand hotel would practice such levels of hostility to African American students is just not believable."

City Hall Watch,

I guess I'm just giving these kids and their leaders what they deserve: the respect and trust that I would give to any stranger.

Why shouldn't I believe them? What do they have to gain by inventing the circumstances and events presented in the article? You still have not provided any facts, but have accused these folks of lying more than once. I think they deserve more respect than that.

I'm wondering why you have a biased view of any of these folks since you assure me it has nothing to do with race. Do you know any of them? Is there any reason to prejudge them so?

"Don't think for one minute that I don't know about rascism or racial profiling because of what I post here."

CHW, for the record, you seem to be suggesting that you have a history of posting comments with a racist tone. I never made that claim, but thanks for clarifying.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | August 6, 2009 1:32 PM

I am with robn, Kids are kids. They where most like disturbing the hotel guests. After all they just won and I would be dancing around to. But to turn it into a race thing is hmmm a bit tacky. Don't be that person. But I am a bit upset that they were removed in the evening like that, that I do belive is a bit shameful on the hotels part.

But congrates to the kids that won!!!

Posted by: john | August 6, 2009 2:46 PM

"...being black in amerikkka is not easy"

well, being white in New Haven isn't exactly a walk in the park, either, as evidenced by the fanatical point of view expressed with your cute spelling, ameri"kkk"a.

so glad we're all on the same (rational) page here. yours truly, "cracker" (or so i've been told).

Posted by: ceo; doug bethea | August 6, 2009 3:37 PM

To whoever the hell is city hall watch meet us at the press confernece and view pictures and video of what happened..you were not there I know you are just giving an opinion but @ this point and time you can keep your damn opinion to yourself because these kids were done injustice and treated with no respect due to their race...and dat ain't right..

Posted by: Edward_H | August 6, 2009 3:41 PM

ROBN

The hotel should have had the foresight to put a the large group on a single floor with a buffer room around them for acoustic purposes.

Your advice is perfectly logical and sound but had the hotel done this Bethea would claim "they" didn't want black people running around their hotel so "they"segregated all the black people to a single floor.

Posted by: new haven | August 6, 2009 4:04 PM

DOUG
WHEN IS THE PRESS CONF. GOING TO TAKE PLACE DAY AND TIME WILL BR THERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

Posted by: myhood | August 6, 2009 4:28 PM

The noise may not have been about race, but the reaction to the noise WAS about race. As confirmation of this, all you have to do is read the comments to this story. White people will almost invariably react as a tribe when black people are involved. College kids on spring break? Oh, they are just having fun. Black kids on vacation? O hell no, kick those black people out, and there babies too, don't care what happens to them.

Walt, cityhallwatch,teacherman, we know the real deal, don't we? Gates was totally wrong too Huh? Why? Oh that's right, don't mess with the Tribe.

Next time Doug, train your kids to expect foul play, and to how to react properly as a proud, disciplined group.

Posted by: webblog1 | August 6, 2009 6:36 PM

First, we all should congratulate the Dixwell Nation Drum and Drill squad on their repeat victory in a national competition.

According to this story though, the victory celebration was loud and short lived.

A closer reading of the story reveals a conflicting tale of two stories, both parties share the blame for the stale bitter sweet out come.

First, the Sheraton Kansas city Hotel should have been more vigilant about how many persons and of what age are being booked in what rooms and where in their hotel.
According to Bethea there were 45 persons booked into ten rooms = 4.5 persons per room, excessive by most hotel standards.

Secondly, the Sheraton, at check-in had the opportunity to make special provisions when the make-up of the group was determined... they did not...

Instead, it appears the Hotel bears major responsibility for allowing a situation in which 35 kids loudly celebrating a national victory, was a predictable outcome.

On the other hand, according to the hotel general manager, when the situation first got out of hand, Bethea was informed and warned of consequences.

All hotels have rules governing the behavior of its quest and reserves the right to enforce those rules. After providing three warnings, the hotel took action. After all three strikes and you're OUT. After being warned the first time, complaints began to surfaced regarding racial profiling and discrimination.

Bethea again shares the blame for not taking corrective action sooner by instructing the 13 chaperons to get a grip on the situation.
Minor children going to the bar for something to eat @ 10:15PM is not acceptable behavior.
If, as Bethea claims, "it all boils down to 48 black people in the hotel and they didn't like it, and if it began on the first nights stay, then Bethea should have immediately gathered his crew and left the hotel.. followed by a complaint to the local NAACP. He did not..

Instead, Bethea choose to stay and subject his kids to the "breaking point in a week of discrimination". also saying, "there was no fight, but these kids were on the verge. These kids were ready to do whatever they had to do to survive".

How irresponsible is that statement?? Yet, after Sunday night Bethea allowed his kids to stay under the circumstances he describes here, ridiculous.

According to chaperon, Diane wilson racial profiling took other forms such as the denial of toilet paper, no room service for two days, and racially charged statements by hotel staff. If true, it merely adds to the failure of Bethea to take action in the face of such hostility towards children. Why did he not call the local police and health departments, why did he not call the national Sheraton office.

In addition,according to Ronald Huggins, upon leaving and going to the days Inn, the group was called "monkeys and told to go back to Africa".
Apparently, according to Bethea's story this happened not once, but again at a second hotel, and he failed to take corrective action...incredible...

This story is a regrettable experience for the victorious children, however, by their statements Bethea and the 13 Chaperons let these children down and contributed, along with the Sheraton, a lasting bitter sweet victory.

Posted by: Been Called Worse | August 6, 2009 7:00 PM

I think the most unreasonable part of this story was the group being kicked out in the middle of the night, with young children in tow.

...Bethea had already been warned that the group was on the verge of eviction. Staff had received repeated complaints about the group being noisy ever since the drill team checked in Sunday night, he said. On Tuesday at 10:30 p.m., they got two more noise complaints from guests.

Hotel staff gave the drill team a "final warning," Frerking said.

The above passage, if true, sounds like the hotel gave the group at least 3 warnings before eviction. I believe that to be reasonable, IF the level of disruption was unreasonable.

On another note, Bethea was called downstairs to resolve the situation. There was no fight, but the kids were on the verge. "These kids were ready to do whatever they had to do to survive," he said. Like, ummm, walk away? Honestly, without judging this particular situation at the bar, in any scenario there will be actions that can either defuse or exacerbate the situation. This does not sound like a do or die survival moment, and didn't need to reach the point it did. Having said that, I hope the offending bar patron was removed for his disparaging comment.

Posted by: Mrs. D | August 6, 2009 8:00 PM

...
You're going to sue Doug? really? Good luck on that. I would think you could use this as an opporunity to teach the kids a lesson. AND the lesson is NOT, if you even think you have been treated unfairly,sue them. They'll settle because it's cheaper, and then you can tell everyone you won. Some things never change Doug.

Posted by: k | August 6, 2009 9:13 PM

The cops didn't use the Tasers, but their presence scared the kids, he said.

Some of the kids "were ready to fight the police officers."

Well MAKE UP YOUR MIND, were they scared or ready to fight the police?If they were ready to fight police than they obviously werent intimidated by hotel staff telling them to quiet down all week.What good respectful kids are ready to fight police?And the post about college kids on spring break having fun...what was that suppose to mean...only white kids go to college and on spring break??Descrimination ,no??Lastly,I was thrown out of many hotels as a teen with my loud teen friends and now as an adult I realized we deserved it.We were loud,obnoxious disrespectful kids with no respect for any hotel employee or staff and yes the police escorted us out but it ended there...even as a kids we knew it was only a matter of a few more warnings and we would get kicked out.We were a mostly white group but with a couple black kids too and the funny thing was the black kids cried descrimination but the white kids knew we were all being jerks and thats why we were thrown out.

Posted by: Hood Rebel | August 6, 2009 9:34 PM

I have been in hotels where, ice hockey, volley ball, and badminton teams were staying. They were ALL loud and disruptive. The hotel staff did their best, so did the guests. I have never heard of police being called to kick out every one including babies in the middle of the night.

Anyone who has been around teenagers know the deal. Walk into a hotel and see a team of any kind you groan knowing there would be some disruptive moments.

How could anyone possibly relish in how the police and hotel handled this? How could anyone sleep at night knowing that folks are out in middle of night looking for someplace to sleep?

Also, as parents having to train our black boys and girls to learn to accept race-related public denigration in 2009 is one of the most disgraceful and frightening expectation placed on a parent.

Yet, we have to constantly teach our children and keep reminding them everyday, every damn day that they are going to be insulted and humiliated in America because of their race... just deal with it!

Enough is enough! This is outrageous on so many levels. I don't care how integrated and cosmopolitan Kansas is supposed to be;the reaction to this situation was flat wrong and any fair-minded person would see this for what it is and raise their voices against it!

Posted by: Sarah28 | August 7, 2009 1:04 AM

This quote is very troubling:
"Bethea was outraged. He said at that time, the only people who were awake were four adults and four college-aged kids. They were hanging out together in one hotel room, giggling, laughing and telling stories. The drill team folks in the other nine rooms were asleep, he said."

Well Bethea, Your outrage is the greatest outrage of all. You do not get it that there are rules to follow when you take kids out of town, (Plymouth or the home of the Future Farmers of America). Here for you:

(1) Curfew & lights out at 10:30

(2) Rule 1 above applies for the kids AND the chaperons. You the chaperons need the rest in order to be alert the next day. Your days are longer than the kids.

(3) Only activities allowed are the chaperons' regular patrols. Zipped and silently. Ghost patrol we used to call it!

Chaperons "... hanging out together in one hotel room, giggling, laughing and telling stories ..." or any other recreational activities, (you pick your own favorites), ARE NOT an acceptable behavior after curfew / lights-out! It is not what we expect of those chaperoning our kids!

Pick your race of choice, then break any single one of these rules and if I am paying money for the room next to yours, I will ask the hotel to get you and the Elmy City Bucnhies outta here or my next call will be to my credit card company getting my money back. Which I will get without too much problemo.

Now, I know the Kansas City, MO Sheraton and the Hilton very well. I did patronage both places for long stays. Nicest steak ever! The people? Nah ... never mind.

Posted by: Bob | August 7, 2009 7:58 AM

I've stayed in hotels with kids running up and down the halls and complained to the management. It took several calls before they were reined in. If you pay for a room, you deserve to be able to sleep.

Posted by: Steve Ross, Human | August 7, 2009 9:49 AM

Oh Homo sapiens sapiens, why must we be so flawed?

Posted by: William Kurtz | August 7, 2009 10:06 AM

The reported comments from some of the hotel guests and staff are repellent and any business with an employee who referred to customers as 'roaches' or 'monkeys' should certainly discipline those employees.

Having said that, I've chaperoned a lot of overnight field trips with high school students and it's easy to see the mistakes that from this account were made by the chaperones in handling their charges. First, almost no kids 'know' how to act in business hotels in the middle of the week; they need to be explicitly taught. No running around in the halls, no slamming doors, no congregating 8 people to a room, no playing music in the rooms, and so on. Yes, kids will be kids, but at the same time, no business traveler on a tight schedule needs to deal with someone else's kids in the middle of the night. Then, even after they've been taught, chaperones need to continually reinforce the good behavior and intercept the bad. This generally means in my experience setting early bed times, checking rooms, and staying up for a while to walk the floors--the adults responsible for the group should be the first ones to respond to any noise or disruption--not other hotel guests and certainly not the hotel staff.

Mr. Bethea, you have done some wonderful work with these children and you and they have a lot of to be proud of. Congratulations on your victory. I hope that you will exercise your positive influence on them to show them how to both accept the share of responsibility they might bear for the situation as well as demonstrating for them how to meet perceived insults with dignity.

Posted by: Scott | August 7, 2009 1:31 PM

HEW Haven asks:What do they have to gain by inventing the circumstances and events presented in the article?
That's an easy one to answer. If they did no wrong, they are inventing nothing. If their behavior was unacceptable, they gain respectability by hiding their bad behavior behind a mask of invented victimhood.
I wasn't there, so all I can do is try to understand. I hope someone is able to learn something positive from the experience.

Posted by: Hill Resident | August 7, 2009 11:09 PM

This is a prime example of how ignorant people can stil be these days. It's a shame even how soe people don't even believe Bethea's claim. Kansas you deal with racism... We as people of the innercity deal with it in New Haven with imaginary lines on where you can not go. I was in East Haven on a business visit and was looked up and dwn by almost every white person outside. I felt like I was down south before slavery ended.

Posted by: Jack | August 8, 2009 3:25 AM

I hope the people who were disturbed come forward. The WTNH report said that some of them had independently called the police too. Hope the Drill group is not making another bogus charge.We've had enough of that lately,and it only discredits folks who have a legitimate beef.

Posted by: ceo; doug bethea | August 8, 2009 11:13 AM

let me just point this out the loudness in the hotel was not from my group because my group rooms were shut down at 10:oo and lights were out by 10:30...the noise in the hotel were coming from loud, drunk and obnoxious people coming from the mariners and royals game. the people @ the hotel waanted us out from day one and we could tell based on their actions. to be called u ppl nd we dont deal with ppl of your kind nd to not receive ant house keeping but for all the other ppl on the floor to is ridiculous..our bus driver which was caucasion received house service everyday and he was on the same floor and we didnt receive anything not even wash clothes. this is ridiculous and the people @ the hotel and their actions were completely unacceptable and its a shame these kids had to go throught this..this is the only time some kids go out of town and to go out of town and to be plagued by these people action..this is unacceptable and for those writing ridiculous comments and dont know whats goin on if you have any questions gladly email me at douglasbethea@comcast.net

Posted by: roro | August 8, 2009 11:46 AM

whats the big deal...we have a black president now..

Posted by: Edward_H | August 8, 2009 4:13 PM

This hotel has been around for awhile. How many other complaints of racism have been leveled at this establishment? Or did the hotel and staff suddenly become racist upon this group checking in? Did the manager send out a memo telling the housekeeping staff not replenish the toilet paper in the rooms of black guests?

Racial tension first materialized Monday night, when about five teenagers went down to the hotel bar to get something to eat.

When you have teenagers going into a bar by themselves at night unescorted by a chaperone there are clearly some incompetent adults in charge.

New Haven?

What do they have to gain by inventing the circumstances and events presented in the article?

Bethea would have to explain to several parents why the kids placed in his care were kicked out of a hotel in the middle of the night. Now he could:

A) Play the victim and blame it all on racist hotel staff.
B) Admit he was unable to keep control of the groups noise levels and ended up disturbing other guests.

Of course the victim mentality so bred into certain New Haven residents really left only one choice

Posted by: Billy McDermott | August 8, 2009 9:40 PM

... u guys were going to fight police??? WHAT? You guys must have really looked like heros in front of the kids Job well done chaperones....I would like to thank you guys though......
By reading this story I now have a few ideas of my own.. I was at an italian restaurant with some of my friends and we were drunk and rowdy, after several warnings they kicked us out.. Now that i think about it, it was because we are Irish. We'll show those prejudice Italians.

Posted by: Chris Gray | August 9, 2009 2:54 AM

The "victim mentality so bred into certain New Haven residents" Edward_H refers to could more accurately be spread much further to "certain American residents", simply because it is a condition that
African Americans encounter daily, victimization. It is hard to avoid a mentality being bred into one by constant and repeated reinforcement.

I recall interviewing Lloyd Richards shortly before he took the reins of the Yale Drama School and he told a nearly identical story to Prof. Gates' of police harassment when he had to "break in" to his new living quarters here in New Haven, on a ladder, no less! Except, Richards kept his wits about him and avoided arrest when reported by a mixed race student working on security patrol. The kid was mightily chagrined.

Posted by: Edward_H | August 9, 2009 1:51 PM

Doug Bethea

let me just point this out the loudness in the hotel was not from my group because my group rooms were shut down at 10:oo and lights were out by 10:30...the noise in the hotel were coming from loud, drunk and obnoxious people coming from the mariners and royals game.

Staff had received repeated complaints about the group being noisy ever since the drill team checked in Sunday night,

The problem with your latest excuse is the hotel was receiving complaints from the time you checked in, not just Tuesday night after the game.

From WTNH

Bethea admits his team has been loud in the past, going so far as to say that that the team should have been kicked out of other hotels

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_haven_cty/news_wtnh_drill_team_claims_racial_discrimination_200908072157#idc-ctools

This story gets less credible every day. People like you with your phony claims of racism make the public much less sympathetic when genuine racial incidents occur

Posted by: Julia Wang | August 10, 2009 7:26 PM

Everyone that defends this throng of inconsiderate, wild, noisy children with pathetic cries of racism are absolutely part of the problem. Shame on you. Shame on promoting this sort of deplorable race baiting. You are your own worst enemy. Those without prejudices will be forced into having them with your disgusting actions.

Posted by: HewNaven?? | August 10, 2009 9:25 PM

"People like you with your phony claims of racism make the public much less sympathetic when genuine racial incidents occur"

Edward H,

I have a sneaking suspicion you've never been sympathetic toward claims of racism.

You've gone out of you're way to prove that nothing occurred at the hotel because of racism. Would you go to the same lengths to prove the opposite? You've made plenty of assumptions, so let mine stand.

You're comments reek of racism. You can't hide it with false logic.

Posted by: Sarah28 | August 10, 2009 11:13 PM

Bethea,

Your newly discovered assertion that "rooms were shut down at 10:00 and lights were out by 10:30..." is new, phony and false. It only appears after posting(s) on this site pointed out the irresponsible behavior on your part and the other chaperons, as well as your failure to impose light out for the kids and the adults.

You never ever before mentioned the words: "curfew", "light out", "shutdown" or any similar. Never! Now you are learning and trying to fix the story. Sorry too late, you made your bed!

Your previous statements to the press was that, "the only people who were awake were four adults and four college-aged kids. They were hanging out together in one hotel room, giggling, laughing and telling stories", clearly not following a light out policies because they did not exist.

The next day, (or every next day, since you got there), you and your late hanging out and giggling chaperons must have been tired and let the kids roam the place like " .... roaches.... ", yes because any group of excited unsupervised kids in a large hotel is very likely to behave like " .... roaches.... ". That, is not a racist statement.

Bethea grow up!

On the next trip, the next victory, (and I wish you many more), WAIT until you bring the kids back home before you "... adults and [ ... ] college-aged kids ... " get together for a chill out and may be even some smoke, (celebratory cigars of course, riiiiiiggght Bethea? That's what I did back in the days, after every little victory).

Posted by: Mike | August 11, 2009 6:00 AM

They waited until they had to compensate a total of seven guests due to the drill team to kick them out? I would have kicked them out of the hotel after one.

Hilarious way to play the race card(so ... I hope they lose and have to pay the hotel's very very very expensive lawyer fees.

Posted by: Flaxen-headed Strumpet | August 11, 2009 7:54 AM

This bunch wouldn't have bee tolerated in hotel three stars or above anywhere else in the world.

Posted by: Edward_H | August 11, 2009 12:30 PM

NewHavenn??

I have a sneaking suspicion you've never been sympathetic toward claims of racism.

You are wrong again. Sorry, but I am unsympathetic to FALSE claims of racism if that makes you feel any better.

You've gone out of you're way to prove that nothing occurred at the hotel because of racism.

Point out in my posts where I claimed nothing occurred at the hotel because of racism. Did you even bother to read my post or did you just have problems with comprehension? My posts have primarily focused on the hotels response to the noise level of the group and the wisdom of the so called chaperons allowing teenagers to go to a bar at night unescorted. There are numerous other claims of racist comments from hotel staff and guests. I never claimed they were making those instances up.

The only one who went out of their way to help prove that the hotel did not act out of racism was Bethea himself with his own words. Unless of course the racist news media is putting words in his mouth.

Would you go to the same lengths to prove the opposite?

Yes

You've made plenty of assumptions, so let mine stand.

Wrong again, point out where I have made numerous assumptions.

You're comments reek of racism.You can't hide it with false logic.

When you can't put together a coherent argument fall back on the old standby of racism. You gave me quite a good chuckle with this statement. Since you seem to be well versed in logic please point out the false logic in my statements if you can. Unless of course I am so racist I would not be able to understand your true logic.

By the way since I am an American who also happens to be Black I believe the correct term you people use for comments like mine would be self-hating or Uncle Tomish. I am just mentioning this so you get something correct in your next post.

And before you start screaming about the term "you people" allow me to explain.

You People= people who can't form a coherent argument or participate in a discussion without attempting to call someone with a differing opinion a racist.

Posted by: drumrollplease... | August 11, 2009 4:37 PM

Isn't it just common knowledge that kids of that age can be extremely obnoxious, inconsiderate, disrespectful, and disobedient? I mean, aren't these traits part and parcel of pre/adolescence? How many people honestly think of teenagers as paragons of restraint, pragmatism, maturity, and forethought? Haven't any of you seen Billy Cosby's bit on "brain damage"? It's funny 'cause it's true. Isn't it then almost a mathmatical certainty that, over the course of several days, 30-some-odd pre/teens who are competing for/have just won a national championship, towards which they have worked hard and travelled far, to generate enough noise and teenage grab-assery to disturb, or more likely, incense, exhausted business travelers, etc., who fill quite a few rooms in those places? I'd say it's more than a possibility. Agist or universal fact? I'm willing to bet there are few middle/high school teachers among those calling people who can't bring themself to swallow this towering dung heap, hook, line, and sinker, "racist".

Half-cocked rage parleyed into regrettable opportunism. What does Whatshisname have to gain by drawing attention to this "humiliating" fiasco? By granting all manor of media interview? MONEY of course! Didn't he just SAY he's winding up so sue the living daylights out of the hotel?!? But how to get enough attention though.... hmmm... if only he came from a town whose strained race relations have been grabbing national and even international headlines for the last six or eight months.... a town nestled in an ordinarily quiet corner of the country, whose most famous export has recently shifted from boiled crustacians to squalling, apoplectic harangues regarding racism by/among civil servants...then maybe the media could find a story and people would pay attention. Then the hotel would have to shove a nice big settlement at him/anyone else who cares to wring a few bucks out of this nonsense.

Hey, maybe that's not what he's looking for. Maybe it's just easier for him to move past this whole mess by subjecting himself to marathon interviewing and ad nausium re-hashing of his incidiary race-baiting gibberish.

As for the 5-10 cops (depending on who you ask) who goose-stepped in to deal with the situation, we can only assume they were racist provocateurs because they were, a) police, and b) carrying self-defense devices that are standard issue for every single cop in the entire country. I bet they even had batons and handcuffs and GUNS! Obviously, up to no good. Anyway, who needs Mace when you are dealing with a group of people who out-number you 9 to 1 and apparently feel they are going to need to fight you to the death?

Kudos, buddy. You gave the pot a pretty good stir. Too bad you had to mar your accomplishments and those of your students by turning this into an ugly race issue. Not what we need in New Haven.