Every weekend, there are dozens of students who find themselves in trouble at the hands of the local police. Whether these people are guilty of underage drinking, possession of drugs or disorderly conduct, their names end up gracing the pages of the BG News blotter the following Monday. Most of the trouble these people get into does not really affect their lives except from a legal standpoint, but sadly that is not always the case.
Last Sunday, a Bowling Green basketball player, Daniel McElroy, was indefinitely suspended from play after being cited with possession of 6.57 grams of marijuana. For those of you who either don't partake in ganja-related extra curricular activities or who don't support the metric system, 6.57 grams is roughly a quarter of an ounce.
McElroy was cited Friday, Jan. 29, he played around four minutes in the game against Central Michigan Saturday, and he was suspended that Sunday. Apparently, the basketball coaches were not aware McElroy had gotten in trouble at the time of the game.
McElroy keeping the coaches in the dark on the situation is probably the key to why his suspension is so severe. Granted, McElroy should have told his coaches the skinny on his legal problems before the game, but I really feel an indefinite suspension is unnecessary.
Many students, including student-athletes, engage in consuming controlled substances in an illegal manner. Most of them get away with it, mainly because getting away with it is not hard. But when a student-athlete gets into trouble, an example is made of them to show the athletic department is serious about the issue.
But why is this so? Why should student athletes be held to a higher standard?
Sure, some might say they are role models or representatives of the University. Sorry to let the student athletes know, most of the students do not look to you to be role models for them.
As a former collegiate student athlete, I feel your dedication to your sport while still attending college deserves much respect, but at this point, we look to others besides sports stars to be role models. And as far as University representatives goes, are there any people outside of the University that are really aware McElroy got into trouble? Chances are, no one knows, especially when his own coaches were not aware.
Another problem that lies in this issue revolves around the criminal aspect of McElroy's citation. Yes, marijuana is currently illegal in America. However, the amount McElroy had in possession was obviously only meant for his own personal use and was not enough to sell to anyone else.
A further question about this is, does McElroy smoking marijuana really affect his ability to play basketball and play it well? Probably not. Michael Phelps was involved in a similar situation just a year ago, after he won eight gold medals in the Olympics. Not that McElroy is as gifted an athlete as Phelps, but Phelps set the standard that an athlete can be world-class and still engage in a little pot smoking.
While I think McElroy should have let his coaches know about his trouble before the game, and that doing so would probably have made a difference in his punishment, I think an indefinite suspension is a little severe.
I understand marijuana is not legal (yet) and that since we live in the real world, a punishment was imminent, but holding someone to a higher standard just because they are an athlete and a student not only doesn't make sense to me, it's contrary to the experience allowed to every other student on this campus.
Respond to Josh at thenews@bgnews.com
Last Sunday, a Bowling Green basketball player, Daniel McElroy, was indefinitely suspended from play after being cited with possession of 6.57 grams of marijuana. For those of you who either don't partake in ganja-related extra curricular activities or who don't support the metric system, 6.57 grams is roughly a quarter of an ounce.
McElroy was cited Friday, Jan. 29, he played around four minutes in the game against Central Michigan Saturday, and he was suspended that Sunday. Apparently, the basketball coaches were not aware McElroy had gotten in trouble at the time of the game.
McElroy keeping the coaches in the dark on the situation is probably the key to why his suspension is so severe. Granted, McElroy should have told his coaches the skinny on his legal problems before the game, but I really feel an indefinite suspension is unnecessary.
Many students, including student-athletes, engage in consuming controlled substances in an illegal manner. Most of them get away with it, mainly because getting away with it is not hard. But when a student-athlete gets into trouble, an example is made of them to show the athletic department is serious about the issue.
But why is this so? Why should student athletes be held to a higher standard?
Sure, some might say they are role models or representatives of the University. Sorry to let the student athletes know, most of the students do not look to you to be role models for them.
As a former collegiate student athlete, I feel your dedication to your sport while still attending college deserves much respect, but at this point, we look to others besides sports stars to be role models. And as far as University representatives goes, are there any people outside of the University that are really aware McElroy got into trouble? Chances are, no one knows, especially when his own coaches were not aware.
Another problem that lies in this issue revolves around the criminal aspect of McElroy's citation. Yes, marijuana is currently illegal in America. However, the amount McElroy had in possession was obviously only meant for his own personal use and was not enough to sell to anyone else.
A further question about this is, does McElroy smoking marijuana really affect his ability to play basketball and play it well? Probably not. Michael Phelps was involved in a similar situation just a year ago, after he won eight gold medals in the Olympics. Not that McElroy is as gifted an athlete as Phelps, but Phelps set the standard that an athlete can be world-class and still engage in a little pot smoking.
While I think McElroy should have let his coaches know about his trouble before the game, and that doing so would probably have made a difference in his punishment, I think an indefinite suspension is a little severe.
I understand marijuana is not legal (yet) and that since we live in the real world, a punishment was imminent, but holding someone to a higher standard just because they are an athlete and a student not only doesn't make sense to me, it's contrary to the experience allowed to every other student on this campus.
Respond to Josh at thenews@bgnews.com
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I agree that the punishment was too severe and that marijuana should be be legalized, but for good or ill athletes are the public face of this university and so they should be held to a higher standard.