A viral video featuring of an a parking lot assault by a man previously affiliated with the California State University Bakersfield Roadrunners baseball team is stirring controversy, with allegations he issued homophobic language ahead of the physical altercation.
Driving the news: Footage from an Instagram story shows a back-and-forth verbal sparring between a man in a truck and another man standing in a parking lot, incorrectly identified as a CSU Bakersfield employee.
- Amid the chatter, the CSUB volunteer punched the driver of the truck in the face.
- Social media users identified the CSUB-affiliated person as Mike Duncan, dubbed the Director of Program Development for the Roadrunners Baseball team.
- A Change.org petition was published demanding Duncan’s termination by the university.
For those who don't know, the member not named is Mike Duncan. Harassing a couple in a Walmart until they left and then continued the foul behavior when they entered their car. For someone spewing such hateful words and actions you would think he could handle a couple words pic.twitter.com/QnGUoeKtKn— CyanPsycho (@Jalapinoyyy) November 11, 2023
What they’re saying: Friday night, CSU Bakersfield Athletics issued a statement, without naming Duncan, announcing a probe into the video and incident.
- “California State University, Bakersfield would like to take the opportunity to address concerns raised about an off-campus altercation that was captured on video and posted on social media. CSUB has not confirmed the identities of the people featured in the video, but we are reviewing the matter,” the university said. “CSUB is an inclusive campus that values and respects all people. We do not condone violence. The university will have no further comment until the review is complete.”
- Monday, the university followed up with an additional statement to The Sun, noting it cut ties with him in the spring.
- “After conducting a review of a video that captured an off-campus altercation, California State University, Bakersfield has confirmed the identity of an individual inaccurately identified as an employee of CSUB. The individual in the video is not employed by the university. He served the CSUB baseball program in an unpaid, advisory capacity for a short time in the early spring of this year. His volunteer efforts on behalf of the team are now at an end. We regret the confusion caused by a web page that gave the impression that he is an employee. We are taking steps to correct that information,” the university said in a statement.
- “At CSUB, we treat all people with dignity, humanity and respect. We champion inclusion and offer a safe space for all who wish to study, work or gather here.”
Editor’s Note: A previous version of the story identified Duncan as a baseball coach with implication he was an employee of the university. He was a volunteer.
