Two associate journalism professors have threatened to boycott award festivities honoring CBS' "60 Minutes" commentator Andy Rooney in light of derogatory comments he made toward female sports reporters.
Associate professors Joseph Russomanno and Craig Allen said they would not attend Rooney's November ceremony for winning the 2003 Cronkite Award of Excellence.
A six-member committee recently selected Rooney as a finalist for the annual award and Walter Cronkite, the school's namesake, made the final decision.
Several faculty members, who were given no input on the decision, are taking issue with comments Rooney made in October during an interview on Madison Square Garden Network's "The Boomer Esiason Show" as quoted in an ESPN.com article.
"The only thing that really bugs me about television coverage is those damn women they have down on the sidelines who don't know what the hell they are talking about... a woman has no business being down there trying to make some comment about a football game," said Rooney.
Russomanno said he was shocked with the decision made by the award selection committee.
"Controversial and opinionated is one thing, but out of touch with humanity is something else," Russomanno said. "I think that's what his behavior has exhibited."
Allen said he agrees with Russomanno's views and will boycott Rooney's award luncheon as well.
"I think faculty over the years have greatly supported the selections that have been made, but that doesn't mean we support every one," Allen said.
Russomanno said he hopes the board will rethink their decision if enough members of the Cronkite school are vocal against Rooney's selection.
"I would hope that if and when more of this dissention surfaces, that perhaps the endowment board would reconsider its selection," he said.
Ray Atigue, president of the Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees and senior vice president of communications for the Phoenix Suns, said the board has made no plans to reconsider its recommendation.
"I am sure what the controversy is all about," Atigue said. "The award has nothing to do with his personal views about anything."
Journalism professor Steve Doig said he does not agree with Rooney's remarks, but still plans to attend the award luncheon.
"As a faculty member of the school, I would probably be inclined to support the school," Doig said. "I think the one intemperate remark in a career of more than 50 years shouldn't be enough to disqualify him."
Journalism professor Bruce Merrill said he hasn't decided if Rooney should receive the award because of his sexist comments.
"His comments were unacceptable in the day and age we live in," Merrill said. "But I haven't made up my mind yet on this issue."
Reach the reporter at meagan.pollnow@asu.edu.
