While athletes may be seen as demigods, capable of amazing physical feats, they are not above reproach.
For at least 15 years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has incorporated in its rulebook that college students are not to receive preferential treatment because of their athletic skills. But is it a rule the university follows on a regular basis?
“For the most part, I do think that student athletes and non-athletes receive equal treatment by the university,” said Nicole Cappiccille ’06. “I have noticed that some professors will sometimes be more flexible with assignment due dates or tests for the athletes, but I think this just shows the willingness of the faculty to help students out when they need it.”
Some students feel that athletes are too often given the benefit of the doubt.
“Student athletes definitely get treated differently because they are athletes,” said Katie Giusti ’06. “I feel that in some instances, the level of work and commitment required by a non-athlete for a course does not apply to some student athletes.”
However, some athletes see it differently.
“I really don’t believe that there is a huge difference between the treatment of athletes and non-athletes,” said Nate Kirnie ’08, a member of the mens lacrosse team. “If anything I see athletes being held to higher standards, but for the most part I see the athletic department and the school putting a lot of work into making sure there is not any difference between student-athlete living and student living.”
When it comes to matters of student misconduct, Mark Reed, dean of students, said that his office applies the Student Conduct Code consistently regardless of whether or not the student is an athlete or a high profile student such as a FUSA officer, a resident adviser or Mirror reporter.
“If anyone was to speculate that this was the case [preferential treatment of athletes], I would simply say that they are forming opinions without the benefit of all the facts or the expressed statements or opinions of those directly involved as reported to us,” said Reed. “People can say what they want but they often misstate or misrepresent facts and that can lead to false or unsubstantiated conclusions.”
“As any student who has been involved in a serious misconduct case can attest to, the Office of the Dean of Students exercises extreme discretion and attention to privacy about such matters,” he added.
Although the Office of the Dean of Students does not release statistics on misconduct by student-athletes, Reed said they do collect data broken down by gender, class year or ethnicity, and use it for educational, outreach or prevention planning efforts.
“What I can and will report in general terms is that the percent of student-athletes accused and/or found responsible for misconduct is less than the percent of overall students,” said Reed.
Todd Pelazza, director of Public Safety, also said that student-athletes are treated exactly the same as other students who are caught by Public Safety in violation of the university’s conduct code.
“If the perception exists about preferential treatment for athletes and I’m not saying that it does, I can not condone it for it is not the case here,” said Pelazza. “In fact, athletes are sometimes disciplined not only by the university but by the coaches as well.”
Although the university’s student conduct code takes precedence over the athletic system, Eugene Doris, director of athletics, said that the athletic department can impose its own penalty for misconduct in addition to the one administered under the code.
In cases where a student-athlete is involved in an incident with police for a violation of the law, Doris said that the student under the law, as well as under the university’s code, is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. But the student is still subject to suspension.
“Because student-athletes have a higher public profile, and they do represent the University, any such matter may result in an immediate suspension from the Athletic Department because of the discredit to the institution,” said Doris.
Doris also said that there are some penalties that are prescribed from the Student-Athlete Handbook. For example, a first offence of the Student-Athlete Conduct Code results in a possible suspension with a review by the Grievance and Compliance Committee, director of athletics and dean of students. A second offense calls for a possible suspension as well as a dismissal from the team and/or a loss of scholarship.
“Once an athletic penalty has been handed-down, a student-athlete has 72 hours to appeal,” said Doris.
Along with being held accountable for the policies outlined in the university’s Student-Athlete handbook, students participating in intercollegiate athletics must follow all policies in the NCAA manual.
Even though student-athletes who violate the university’s conduct code are punished, the athletic department does not turn its back on such students.
“While the department fully supports any penalty received by a student-athlete, it also supports the student-athlete in overcoming any adversity that results from the penalty and in keeping on course to achieve their goals,” said Doris. “The department realizes that student-athletes are human and can make mistakes.”
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