New player cited for alcohol

Lucas Steijn, the newest addition to the IU basketball team, was cited for illegal consumption Sunday night on Indiana Avenue. Steijn, who was introduced Tuesday as a late addition to the 2004-2005 squad, was one of seven passengers in an SUV that included fellow player Kyle Taber, a walk-on. All seven passengers were cited for illegal consumption and two for seat belt violations.\nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said the officer saw the two-door Ford Explorer northbound on Indiana Avenue as it crossed 10th Street. The vehicle was stopped because the driver, Taber, wasn't wearing a seat belt.\nIn the police report, Minger said, the officer asked the group if they had been drinking and received no answer. He asked the driver if he was drinking, and Taber said no. \nMinger said the report indicated Steijn admitted to having a "couple of drinks." Taber later said he had a drink as well.\n"There were several people in the vehicle with two people in the passengers seat," Minger said. "There was a strong odor of alcohol within the vehicle, and the officer asked them to get out. The only violation of law was they were under 21 and weren't wearing a seatbelt."\nAll seven passengers were given Breathalyzer tests. Minger said Steijn's test "indicated a very small amount of alcohol within his system." \n"Since it was only illegal consumption, it doesn't matter whether it was small or large," Minger said.\nTaber wasn't charged with driving under the influence, Minger said, because it didn't appear the driver had actually consumed enough alcohol to be intoxicated. \nIU coach Mike Davis was on the road recruiting but did issue a statement concerning his two players' actions.\n"We are aware of the incident, and it will be strongly addressed within our entire program," Davis said. "This incident is not in line with the standard of Indiana basketball, and that standard is our players are role models on and off the court."\nAthletics department spokesman Pete Rhoda said all disciplinary actions will be handled internally.\nThe 6-foot-10, 230 pound Steijn turned 18 years old Aug. 1.\nThe incident caps a whirlwind three weeks for Steijn, a native of the Netherlands. The freshman said Tuesday that until three weeks ago, he hadn't been contacted by IU. The late addition was prompted by the departure of Robert Rothbart to play professional basketball in Europe.\nHe first arrived in Bloomington last Friday, took a physical Sunday and a blood test Tuesday, the same day he enrolled in classes.\nThe citation was the first legal action against an IU basketball player since a series of legal mishaps happened in 2000, including illegal consumption charges against Dane Fife and Tom Coverdale and a marijuana charge against Jeff Newton.\n-- Contact sports editor John Rodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu .