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Show UVU REVIEW SPORTS B1 COLUMNIST Court-storming melee aftermath By Matt Gardner Staff Writer @SloopMatt GABI CAMBELU/UVU REVIEW New Mexico State players have to be restrained as the fight between them and fans is broken up. Multiple suspensions have been given out as a result of the melee. `Disciplinary action initiated' for student involvement in UVU vs. NMSU brawl School officials begin to hand out consequences for Feb. 21 scuffle By Kyle Spencer Sports Editor @kyledspencer Whatever caused jubilant Utah Valley fans and New Mexico State players to engage one another in a violent mixup following the Wolverines' monumental win remains unknown. Suspensions have been handed out to both parties and injuries have begun to heal, but multiple UVU students caught in the middle of the brawl said they didn't even notice senior point guard Holton Hunsaker getting hit with the basketball by NMSU's K.C. Ross-Miller as time expired. UVU has asked students involved not to speak about the possible disciplinary actions until the process has concluded, but a source close to the ongoing discussions said that at least two students were suspended from attending one Western Athletic Conference basketball game. The university released an official statement on March 4: "The University expects all students to conduct themselves responsibly and civilly. Violence of any kind is not acceptable and constitutes a violation of our student code. "Upon review of the Feb. 27 incident following the UVU/New Mexico State basketball game, Utah Valley University has taken appropriate action pursuant to the University's Student Rights and Responsibilities Code. UVU officials have notified the students involved and have initiated disciplinary action. The University does not disclose student disciplinary records in accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. "As it always has been, safety at all university events remains a top priority. University and athletic officials continuously monitor game management and security procedures and will take the appropriate steps to 'ensure the safety of all players, officials and fans." Kameron Dearing, a student who rushed the court said NMSU players mistakenly interpreted the celebrating fans' actions initially. Once people started colliding and pushing one another, the subsequent physical interactions were out of self-defense. Section 5.3.1 of the UVU Students Rights and Respon- sibilities Code includes: "Failure to respect the right of every person to be secure from fear, threats, intimidation, harassment, hazing, and/or physical harm caused by the activities of groups or individuals." It does not specify any actions of self-defense as an exception, and it's hard to argue that having the ability to cock one's arm back to throw a blow constitutes self-defense in this case, but the Dean of Students has the ultimate authority in the matter. Sanctions are covered in the 5.12 of the code, where it says the criteria for determining consequences should be in accordance with: "(1) Educational value for the student found in violation of this policy; (2) Commensurability of the violation and the assigned sanction." Potential sanctions range from penalties as light as a warning to more serious possibilities such as expulsion, the withholding of a degree "until completion of process" and the loss of certain rights and privileges. A CT scan revealed that Dearing suffered a concussion, according to the source and he had impaired hearing for four days after the brawl. Renaldo Dixon of NMSU perhaps landed the hardest strike of all when he landed a vicious combination of his elbow and forearm to Dearing's head. The WAC suspended Dixon for one game and RossMiller for two. For better or worse, the event drew national attention to UVU and a basketball program that is in position to at least qualify for the National Invitational Tournament with a win in its season finale. Athletics department begins random drug tests Athletes at UVU are taught the dangers of steroids in addition to the school's "threestrike rule" By Kate Ayer Staff Writer Although steroid use isn't an imminent threat at Utah Valley, the athletic department educates athletes on the dangers of drug use and implements random drug testing. Steroid use has been in the sports world limelight for years with high-profile cases like Lance Armstrong, Marion Jones and Alex Rodriguez. Steroid use is strictly prohibited and highly condemned in the sports world. Many athletes find that to be a deterrent, but many don't. "In my opinion steroid use is simply cheating," said Riley White, a UVU baseball player. "There is no way to justify steroid use." However, some athletes do justify their use of steroids, and many caught "doping" cite immense pressure to perform at optimal level at all times. "I get so annoyed when I hear people make the argument to allow everyone to use it," White said. "They say, 'Well if everyone is allowed to use it, then it wouldn't be an unfair advantage.' If this is the attitude, then we will have young athletes destroying their bodies at a young age to try and keep up." Andrew Nelson, UVU's head athletic trainer, said that steroids are basically a controlled substance. "The reason it is controlled is that there are known side effects, which are unhealthy for the athlete," he added. Aside from the risk to athletes' bodies, another ethical dilemma behind the steroid ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR ROBERTSON//UVU REVIEW STEROIDS 82 Enhanced physical features often appeal to athletes looking to get ahead, but steroid use is dangerous and illegal in college sports. Utah Valley's 66-61 overtime win against New Mexico State is indicative of Charles Dickens' famous opening line, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times." The first-place battle Feb. 27 at the UCCU Center had everything one would want from a game between the Western Athletic Conference's best teams. However, despite nine lead changes and hard physical play, an electrifying overtime win was all but overshadowed by an all-out brawl between opposing players from New Mexico State and Utah Valley fans. So what's one to make from it all? Can one reduce the melee to a single player or UVU fan? Even more, does this mark the tipping point where college students will no longer be permitted to rush the court to celebrate a big win? Ultimately every person is responsible for his or her actions, which includes dejected athletes and the winning team's fans. There was plenty of blame to go around, beginning with New Mexico State's K.C. Ross-Miller who cowardly threw the ball at Utah Valley point guard Holton Hunsaker at the end of the game. Like it or not, fans who enter the court or field after an emotionally charged game are entering at their own risk, or even peril. Fans need to understand the ramifications when choosing to do so. ESPN writer Myron Metcalf stated it succinctly. "If you decide to run on that gridiron, that court, that field of play in the hectic, emotional postgame frenzy that tends to accompany high-octane matchups, you might get punched. Yes, punched." Tough language, but he's got it right. Still, my dilemma is — despite what took place —I'm still a fan and a proponent for court storming. With some minor tweaking, I believe that event security and management should-and-can embrace a way to allow fans to still rush the court without jeopardizing athletes or fans. I love collegiate sports traditions; from college students camping out to court storming That's what makes collegiate sports different from professional sports, in my opinion. There's something romantic about collegiate sports that is almost ineffable. I can recall so many great memories either watching or taking part in running onto the court or field after a big game. I can only remember once where an altercation took place after fans rushed the court and that was between Utah Valley and New Mexico State. Sad, but true. I don't think there should be a ban on court storming just because of this unfortunate incident, but perhaps court storming is becoming all too AFTERMATH 82 |