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13. Ole Miss Investigating Offensive Play Disruption
Ole Miss officials are launching an investigation to determine what happened Tuesday night during a university theatre production of The Laramie Project.
Audience members, including Ole Miss football players, attended the play and allegedly caused a disturbance during the performance.
Garrison Gibbons, an openly gay Ole Miss student and actor in the play, described the incident.
“The audience started out like any other student audience that we have,” Gibbons said. “Cell phones and talking were noticeable but nothing too bad. After the first intermission, the mood shifted, however. Soon, the audience was mocking the portions of the play that revolve around hatred and serious subject matter.”
According to Gibbons it continued to get worse throughout the performance. The house manager and ushers reported to Gibbons they heard verbiage such as “queer” and “faggot” coming from the back row of the audience.
“It would be easy to generalize all the blame of this on the football players in attendance, but they weren’t the only ones,” Gibbons added. “Many other people in attendance responded this way, too.”
Musical theatre major Jade Genga, who plays multiple roles in the show, backed up Gibbons’s account citing “excessive talking and laughing”.
The stage manager came onstage in response and asked the audience to turn off their cell phones and remain quiet. She was cat-called and jeered while on stage. The behavior continued to escalate.
“It was so hurtful,” Genga said. “We had to get together backstage and there were a lot of tears. There was such an unbelieveable amount of disrespect (from the audience).”
Once backstage the cast members pulled themselves together and encouraged one another to go back onstage and perform. For Gibbons the hardest part came at the beginning of the second act when his character says “I’m 52 and gay”. The audience roared in laughter, pointed and took photos.
“After that I knew they weren’t judging the show anymore but us as human beings,” Gibbons said.
For Genga, the real problem was the quiet acceptance from the other audience members.
“Our peers from across the whole campus didn’t stand up for us or their LGBTQ community (during the show),” Genga said.
Although interpretations of the event differ, officials are actively trying to find out what happened. In a statement released on Thursday, Chancellor Dan Jones and Athletic Director Ross Bjork released a statement.
“While we work to determine with certainty who disrupted the Laramie Project play, we want everyone within our university community and beyond to know that we strongly condemn the behavior exhibited Tuesday night. As a member of the Ole Miss family, each of us has a responsibility to be accountable for our actions, and these individuals will be held accountable. Our investigation will determine the degree to which any and all students were involved.”
Ole Miss Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze tweeted “We certainly do not condone any actions that offend or hurt people in any way. We are working with all departments involved to find the facts.”
Audience members who were sitting in the front row told HottyToddy.com that they did not hear any epithets.
“There was some laughter in the audience, but I didn’t hear any name-calling,” Freshman Josh Peaster said.
Hollis Burrow, another student in attendance, agreed.
“I didn’t hear any slurs come from the audience at all. It was like any other performance I’ve been to,” he said. “You’ll hear the occasional whisper of somebody right next to somebody else. But definitely not audibly speaking.”
During the show, coaches were notified of the athletes’ behavior and an academic advisor was contacted. After the show was over the athletes were made to stay and apologize.
According to Genga one of the athletes told the cast that he “wasn’t laughing at you guys” but he was “laughing at the situation.”
The show depicts the reaction to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a 20-year-old gay college student who was brutally tortured and left to die.
“As a gay student, the actions last night personally struck a chord with me,” Gibbons said. “Gay rights and equality are the new hurdle I feel America is battling to overcome. I think through this we are reminded of why we did this show.”
—The HottyToddy.com Editorial Staff
Laramie Project participents standing in the back from left to right: Rachel Staton, Kaleb Mitchell, Adam Brooks, Nathan Burke, Garrison Gibbons, Nathan Ford, Darby Burghard, Taylor Dunn. Seated in the front, from left to right: Jade Genga, Jake Johnson, Cayley Smith. / Photo Courtesy of Ole Miss Communications
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Rod Clark
October 3, 2013 at 10:05 pm
It is absolutely unacceptable that this happened on the campus in 2013, and it should be taken just as seriously as students talking about African-Americans and using that old epithet. I will be looking for the outcome . . .
RebelGuy007
October 4, 2013 at 1:00 am
This makes me so mad that this is even an issue. I don’t now why they have to watch this kind of crap play. I guess we should be use to the fact that liberals run all the colleges now, and they want to make people think that being guy is a good thing. As a Christian, I would have not watched that play and can’t really blame the kids for acting like they did. But this is not news worthy, who really gives a crap about what they said. I’m sure if the play was about Christians and the crowd was mocking them, then it would be acceptable and the school would not be investigating. What about free speech, I guess it’s not okay to express how you feel unless your a liberal. Because if your not a liberal and you say something, then they well call you a racist or whatever. Is this what our country is coming too. I know this isn’t the country I fought for when I was in the army. This kids didn’t hurt anyone, at most all the did was hurt someones feelings. But in this country, you might get thrown in jail for that. I wouldn’t care if they pissed off some of those liberal professors or whoever idea it was to have this crap play.
Sylvia Hartness Williams
October 4, 2013 at 6:34 am
Everyone should be respectful during a performance regardless of the play content.. Disturbing a play performance is not the platform to exercise free speech while actors are on stage. . On the other hand, universities should not force a student to change their belief because society has decided what is right or wrong. Society is clearly divided but people should respect other people not determined by anyone’s belief. As much as the LBGT community feels criticized, Christians are experiencing the same criticism.
Sarah Elizabeth Saucier
October 4, 2013 at 8:36 am
As a Christian myself I don’t think you’re helping our cause by belittling what happened at Ole Miss and using words like “crap”. I understand how you feel about the liberal agenda but what do you think Christ would have done in this situation? He certainly wouldn’t have joined in the heckling and I believe he would most certainly have stood up to those people who were using slurs. A man was tortured and killed because he was gay and that is absolutely heinous and wrong. Instead of politely watching the performance and drawing their own conclusions, some students chose to be disruptive and hurtful, which is also wrong. I went to Ole Miss and I hate this negative publicity. Group mentality and the overall immaturity of those students explains what they did to a degree, however I believe they should be held responsible for their actions by the University, whether that means suspension from school and/or the football team. I believe in free speech and open debate, but at the right time and place. This wasn’t free speech it was rude at best and hateful at worst!
donhof
October 4, 2013 at 8:44 am
The ones responsible for putting on this play should be fired and sent packing. It was idiotic to put on a play using gay content. The backlash is only going to get worse but it will not be for the hecklers. Those in leadership who allowed this crap are to blame here.
Tabatha
October 4, 2013 at 10:10 am
Thi is so sad an the two that have left hateful comments should be expelled. Makes me sick. A bunch of hateful people. My children will no longer be trending ole miss an my support for the school is gone. That is all. And the one who left the freedom of speech comment. Take your own advise
RebelGuy007
October 4, 2013 at 12:05 pm
I didn’t say that what they said was right, but it isn’t news worthy at all. I am not trying to do anyone any favors, that is what I think, and yes the play is pure crap. And a lot of ppl said they didn’t hear any slur’s are whatever. The school should be apologizing for making them watch the play.
RebelGuy007
October 4, 2013 at 12:08 pm
I’m glad, Ole Miss doesn’t want the support of ppl like you. The school should apologize for making the kids what this play and ppl in charge of the play should be fired!
Kelly Bustard
October 4, 2013 at 3:19 pm
BS…. This is nothing more than actors crying over being laughed at… a “crime” that infuriates actors. I was in theater for years, over 75 productions. You want to tick off an actor? Laugh at their performance. Eye witnesses report no gay slurs were heard. Slurs a problem.. laughing at a play – not so much to anyone OTHER than the theatre troupe performing.
Kelly Bustard
October 4, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Did you read the article Sarah?
You need re-read the following:
Audience members who were sitting in the front row told HottyToddy.com that they did not hear any epithets.
“There was some laughter in the audience, but I didn’t hear any name-calling,” Freshman Josh Peaster said.
Hollis Burrow, another student in attendance, agreed.
“I didn’t hear any slurs come from the audience at all. It was like any other performance I’ve been to,” he said. “You’ll hear the occasional whisper of somebody right next to somebody else. But definitely not audibly speaking.”
The only “Crime” here is actors being laughed at during their performance – in the theatre world that is worse than drinking directly from the punch bowl at a party. I know because I am a theatre veteran having worked on more than 75 productions over 12 years. Trust me… actors can be vicious and vengeful when their craft is criticized.
Sunny
October 4, 2013 at 4:03 pm
No, actually, we’re not. At all. The very comparison is insanity.
Sunny
October 4, 2013 at 4:08 pm
There is something very wrong with you. You need to examine your soul. Please don’t post as a Christian. You do not represent us well.
michael davis
October 4, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Queer is not a homophobic slur
michael davis
October 4, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Tab. Please don’t leave. We need people like u and ur kids to make the university of Mississippi even better
RebelGuy007
October 4, 2013 at 7:33 pm
You are the one that isn’t representing Christians if you think it is okay to be gay and to make it a good thing to be gay. That is a sin, and the school should be ashamed to have a play like that. Don’t you tell me what is wrong, when you are the one that doesn’t know right from wrong.
Kyle Wooddall
October 4, 2013 at 10:17 pm
Why do we keep doing this type of thing?
Yes, I say “we” because I am associated with everything Ole Miss. I love my school and I want us to be successful in every aspect. Our student body needs to realize that we are being scrutinized more than any other in the SEC. I am not condoning anything that happened. I think we have a bunch of immature kids that need to learn how to treat people
Rod Clark
October 5, 2013 at 10:59 am
So you were there, Kelly? The truth will come out, and we’ll se who’s right.
Sarah Elizabeth Saucier
October 7, 2013 at 8:46 am
I did read the article, as well as several others. Obviously I think the situation needs to be looked into and if the students did not do anything wrong that’s great. However if they did yell out gay slurs and heckle the cast I think they should be punished.
Randall Toomey
October 7, 2013 at 10:01 pm
A message to any student that was in attendance and will be in the “divide and conquer” small group sessions. Seek out legal advice and representation before you have anything done to you. They are only seeking out evidence and identities. Proof – Greg Couch from Fox Sports wants your heads as well as others across country. They want to scar you for the rest of your life. Maybe you want a job coaching (or any other) 10 years down the line – not when they find this on your record, they wont give you a chance to be hired. They want to make an example out of you and ride you for life. “Cowards hiding in the dark”? Perhaps, but when their is a blood thirsty,revenge seeking mob hunting you down,it’s best to hunker down and let them storm past. GET A LAWYER.
Kelly Bustard
October 8, 2013 at 2:50 pm
And the investigation is now over and no evidence that racial slurs were uttered Rod Clark… I know one thing.. actors love to create drama… The house manager is the lowest of the low in the theatrical world… The position is usually given to an incompetent to shut them up. Their main duties include cleaning the bathrooms. You are right I was not there, and have had to rely on reading approximately 15 articles on the matter. However, IF – I had to draw a conclusion from reading the articles and my personal knowledge of theater…I suggest this scenario: The audience was thin.. and a few laughed,.. oh – wait, If I create a scandal we will pack the house… I’ll just mention I heard gay slurs… oh… look football players – they must have been the ones. Lets call the Daily Mississippian, .After the scandal Meek Auditorium is full… and I bet the house manager is now a hero, because of his allegations there is a full house and everyone has expressed outrage and feel so sorry for the poor theatre troupe who were laughed at. You may scoff at my suggested scenario. However, knowing actors and theater groupies for as long as I have… I believe that is indeed what happened.
Rod Clark
October 8, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Actor turned screenwriter, Kelly Bustard? I understand your point of view and agree it might have happened that way(though during my theater days at Ole Miss and little theater since, I have not met such a house manager). However, it is still easy for me to believe the original story along with a cover-up by the Athletic Association (as part of the current administration’s plan to clean up UM’s image). Having grown up in Mississippi and been perceived by football players from junior high on to be “different,” I know from personal experience how many football players act and how they treat LGBT people. So, based on our different experiences, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. This doesn’t change the fact that I love Ole Miss and the years I spent there, but I do expect better from current students . . .
ttpog
October 10, 2013 at 12:00 am
For you to liken the homosexual lifestyle choice to the innate quality of being a person of color – black – is ludicrous. Homosexuality is NOT the new black! Shame on you!
ttpog
October 10, 2013 at 1:11 am
This incident is being blown completely out of proportion by the homosexual community. First, it seems that nothing more than hurt feelings are causing some like Garrison Gibbons to launch an all out assault on this University. I would hope that he could exercise more maturity and ‘man’ up. Hurt feelings are a fact of life; get used to it. The shame is that Gibbons is in college yet incapable of dealing with differences of opinions without resorting to actions like that of a child.
Secondly, the whole premise that Matthew Shepard was a martyr in the battle with supposed ‘homophobia’ is a patently false one. it has been proven but ignored by mainstream, liberal media that instead, he was simply the victim of a drug related crime and a consensual homosexual relationship gone bad – as too many do. It turns out that the hero of the homosexual community was a meth dealer. He and the lead attacker were also friends and lovers. His death was the result of a squabble over drugs and money.
The question arises: With the truth being told, will it make any difference? Will those who wrongly politicized Shepard’s death with falsehoods and mischaracterizations apologize? Will foundations like the Laramie Project that mythologized his murder give up their assets and close their doors? Will the politicians who turned the rule of law upside-down under false pretenses repeal their hideous acts that defraud the First Amendment and impose thought crimes on the public? I won’t hold my breath.
This University should stand firm against the homofascists and not allow themselves to be bullied as so many others are.
Rod Clark
October 10, 2013 at 8:55 am
You used the word “innate,” and that is exactly why LGBT people are different. No, homosexuality is not the new black because it’s been here just as long. Are you living under a rock or just ignoring years of research? And don’t pull out those old verses from Leviticus unless you don’t eat shrimp, have never worn leather shoes or belts, and don’t believe it is okay to enslave neighboring tribes (etc., etc., etc.). Just tell me one thing — what did Jesus say about homosexuality? I’ll take my clues from him! I know people like you don’t know shame, but I’m ashamed of you for Ole Miss and Mississippi — it’s people like you who perpetuate the negative reputation of both!
ttpog
October 10, 2013 at 9:25 pm
LGBT people are different all right, but their deviant sexual behavior does not qualify as innate. You do understand what innate is, right? You will never meet an ex-black, but as it turns out, you will meet many ex-homos. Same-sex attraction is just that….an attraction….and choosing to act on that attraction is a behavior…..nothing more. Prove otherwise. There is no homosexual gene, and the many ex-homos, as well as twins, prove it to be nothing more than behavior.
Also, I am not from MS, and I have never been to Ole Miss (nor do I care to). I simply commented on this story because it is another shameful example of homofascism run amock.
ttpog
October 10, 2013 at 9:50 pm
We are all designed by God. God made mankind after his likeness and image.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27 kjv).
God designed my body and my soul. God designed my sexuality and Jesus said He designed me to be a heterosexual, attracted to the opposite sex…
“Have ye not read, that he [GOD] which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and the twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” – Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:4-6 kjv).
Jesus said He designed marriage to be when one man and one woman join together and become one flesh in unity under God. Nothing can change what Jesus said and taught. I accept His design for my heterosexuality, and I have made a willful choice to follow in God’s plan for me, but I did not choose my heterosexuality. I am a heterosexual, this was already decided for all of us. God told me that I was designed this way, and I have made the willful choice to accept God’s design and plan for me. To choose anything different is a willful choice to reject God’s design and plan…..in other words….disobedience…..sin.
Rod Clark
October 10, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Know any divorced Christians? Didn’t Jesus also say something about casting the first stone? Or do you just ignore the parts of the Bible that are inconvenient? Yeah, I thought so. I’m glad you’re perfect in your own eyes and believe you can speak for the universe — it must be pleasant in your smug little Tea Party world. And I don’t care where you’re from, but I can’t fix stupid so you can preach to yourself after this.
ttpog
October 10, 2013 at 11:37 pm
Divorced people are as wrong and disobedient as homosexuals, whether the divorced couple be Christian or not. I never said differently.
Name calling is quite the juvenile behavior which proves you are not only childish, but that you have no valid argument as well.
Kelly Bustard
October 13, 2013 at 1:42 pm
I do concur that athletes have a stigma of being less tolerant of those who walk on the wild side… I can imagine that between themselves during the production and exchange of slurs may have occurred. That is certainly within the realm of free speech; shouting out the slur for all to hear is not. The initial reports were refuted by 3 who were at the performance, who alleged that there was only laughter, that they heard no racial slur. Since there was no recording of the performance, only those in Meek Auditorium will know. I still believe from all I have read – that the whole matter is much ado about nothing more than actors with wounded pride from being laughed at.
JJ
December 29, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Why should anyone have to watch that trash anyway? It sounds as though it was mandatory to be there. Maybe someone should stand like Phil Robertson and just tell the truth about homosexuality instead of trying to get people of faith to go against their beliefs!! Take a stand for Jesus and condemn sin such as homosexuality!