IUSF making poor decisions

The IU Student Foundation is, once again, considering reversing a decision regarding the eligibility of men's Little 500 third-place qualifier Team Major Taylor. IUSF has failed to apply the rules fairly across the board for all teams. \nIUSF first disqualified Team Major Taylor freshman captain Joshua Weir because it received word he obtained USA Cycling category 1 status in December 2000. Little 500 riders must only be category 3, 4 or 5 to qualify. \nIUSF should have obtained the letter it received from USA Cycling before the arbitration hearing. By not obtaining the letter, IUSF went into the hearing on information obtained through hearsay. This is not enough information to disqualify a rider from a race. \nAfter pulling Team Major Taylor from eligibility, Weir objected and IUSF set up an arbitration panel to decide the matter. The panel met and unanimously reversed IUSF's decision.\nNow the arbitration panel's ruling is questioned because new information from USA Cycling was sent to IUSF leading the Foundation, once again, to seek the team's disqualification.\nThis entire process of eligible, ineligible, eligible and now possibly ineligible again, reeks of mismanagement by IUSF. The Foundation should have made its initial decision based on sound information -- regardless of whether that meant upholding the team's ability to ride or its disqualification.\nQuestions have been raised by some regarding whether teams in the past should have been disqualified on similar grounds. It's difficult to believe IUSF's decisions on qualifications when they are mired in such wrangling.\nIt's not fair to any of the riders to be subject to a reversal so close to the race. IUSF should look into these matters well ahead of time, and by failing to provide proof during the arbitration, IUSF is guilty of poor planning.\nWhile there have been discrepancies over the rules in the past, this most recent controversy should prompt IUSF to take a more critical eye to its rules and apply them more consistently in future races.\nLittle 500 is a historical event bigger than any one team. While students who participate should be aware of the regulations necessary to participate, IUSF should be held accountable.