Dates
- April 4th 2007-May 9th 2007
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Don Imus Controversy are divided into two series containing forty-two folders. Series I, Press Coverage, contains sixteen folders. Series II, Correspondence, contains twenty-six folders.
The first series contains the transcript of Imus' original radio show, the subsequent Rutgers University statements in response to his comments, and the media coverage of the controversy (including 6 DVDs, Google News search results, and copies of original newspaper articles). The bulk of the material is found in the second series, consisting of emails sent to the Rutgers University President, Richard L. McCormick, in reaction to the controversy, as well as his responses.
Extent
1 Cubic Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
These records from the Rutgers University Office of Media Relations comprise those created and accumulated during the Don Imus controversy, spanning April 4th-May 9th of 2007. The controversy involves Don Imus, a radio talk-show host, and the comments he made during his show concerning the Rutgers University Women's Basketball team after their loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Women's National Championship game. The comments were deemed racist and sexist, and subsequently sparked a heated debate regarding the consequences of offensive speech.
<emph render="bold">Historical Sketch of the Imus Controversy</emph>
On April 3, 2007, the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team lost 59-46 to Tennessee in the NCAA Women's National Championship game – ending a historic season that also included a Big East Tournament championship and an NCAA tournament win over then-No.1 ranked Duke.
The next morning, national radio and television talk-show host Don Imus made a highly derogatory comment about the team over the national airwaves.
Once members of the Rutgers administration became aware of this comment from representatives of the news media, they worked with Coach C. Vivian Stringer to craft a communications strategy that would express the university community's outrage without taking away from the ongoing celebration of the team's success.
After Coach Stringer and the team left campus for the Easter weekend, the Imus controversy grew into an international news story. Members of the administration worked with community leaders, political leaders and media representatives to manage the story throughout the weekend.
The result was unprecedented in the university's history – nearly 20,000 print, digital and broadcast stories about Rutgers, the vast majority of them positive. The successful management of this controversy also led to widespread praise for the university's response as well as national coverage of Rutgers' heightened prestige.
More important, the actions of Coach Stringer and the players prompted a national debate about the ramifications of offensive speech.(1)
Note
(1) See Kim Manning's statement available from Rutgers University Office of Media Relations' Records of the Don Imus Controversy, Box 1, Folder 1.
Arrangement Note
This collection was originally stored in three large binders and is now housed in one legal sized box. It is organized into two series:
- I. Press Coverage
- II. Correspondence
General
(1) See Kim Manning's statement available from Rutgers University Office of Media Relations' Records of the Don Imus Controversy, Box 1, Folder 1.
General
(1) See Kim Manning's statement available from Rutgers University Office of Media Relations' Records of the Don Imus Controversy, Box 1, Folder 1.
- Title
- Guide to the Records of the Don Imus Controversy, April 4th 2007 - May 9th 2007 RG 07/A1c
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Samara Rhett
- Date
- November 2010
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Part of the Rutgers University Archives Repository
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