Because of his words and feelings about foreigners and immigrants, Rocker is being suspended, fined and forced into therapy. Have students view the two news clips and take notes on what Rocker said and the commotion it has caused. Discuss both the harsh statements and punishments, especially since it was his words, not actions, that have caused the uproar. Have students read the two articles, but mainly focus on the story on A7. One angle of the story that seems odd is that the comments Rocker made are not the sole reason why he is being punished.
Public outrage is somewhat responsible for the swift, harsh penalties.
In letters, on radio talk shows, in editorials and sports columns, the media and public have prompted the actions against Rocker. It is time for our students to add their two cents to the controversy. They are to write an editorial. This section should be very general, with the majority of the details coming from the notes students took from the video portion of the lesson. Using the information from the crossword puzzle, the news article and the writer's own experiences, this section of the essay will provide specific details on what John Rocker said and the commotion it has caused.