Basketball riots spur rule revision

Last spring, the road to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship trophy sparked riots and destructive behavior not only at IU and Bloomington, but across the nation.\nThe University of Maryland witnessed some of the worst post-game festivities after beating IU in the championship game. The riots caused damage across Maryland's campus and now the university has put into effect policies ordering expulsion as the main punishment for students who participate in post-game rioting across any of the University of Maryland's 13 campuses, causing some universities to look at how they punish their partyers.\nAccording to the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, the University may punish students for personal misconduct off of University property, such as arson or participation in group violence, similar to what happened on Kirkwood Avenue during IU's run to the championship game last March and April.\nThe University may also punish students for misconduct on University property, but cannot expel a student for personal misconduct such as rioting, on or off University property.\nDean Richard McKaig said he believes the University has never expelled a student for misconduct on or off-campus following an athletic event, but some have been suspended because of arrests made by the city and other charges.\n"I think there are students who are suspended from the University as a result of events they engaged in after games this spring," McKaig said. \nMcKaig said the University only uses expulsion as a last resort for any act of misconduct regarding IU students, and the University treats expulsion as permanent.\nIn the University of Maryland's new policy, approved by the university's Board of Regents, students may reapply into the school after one year, but the university does not have to readmit the student.\n"I feel like we've made incredible progress," said the University of Maryland's Vice-President of Student Affairs, Linda Clement.\n"I think the Board of Regents has sent a message that this kind of destructive behavior will not be tolerated."\nSenior Justin Barnes, IU Student Association's director of Student Rights, said he thinks Maryland's new policy is inherently unfair.\n"I don't think we should follow the Maryland decision," Barnes said. "Rushing to judgment always leads to bad decisions."\n"The minute you expel a student, you basically say 'We give up,'" Barnes said.\nBarnes said he believes the IU Student Association and the University will discuss changes in the Code of Student Rights next year, as well as punishments for personal misconduct on and off-campus.\n"I think there has to be changes," Barnes said. "I think we need a code to embody the mission of Indiana University."\nBut if the Code is to be changed, it could take more than a year for it to take effect, having to go through a maze of approval from IUSA, the Dean of Student's office, the IU Board of Trustees, and others.\n"You're looking at at least a year if not more," Barnes said. "(Changing the code) is a long drawn-out process"