IUSF to riders: Coaching rule will remain

Leaders of the IU Student Foundation defended a controversial Little 500 rule change to riders during four meetings held Monday and Tuesday. \nMatthew Ewing, assistant director of IUSF, told Little 500 riders that the "Student Coaching Initiative," which bars nonstudent coaches from the pits on race day, will be implemented this year. A large group of riders are circulating a petition to deliver to IUSF that asks for a re-evaluation of the rule. \n"I think it's great the riders are coming together," Ewing said after one of Tuesday's meetings. "As far as whether it's going to change anything, it's not going to happen."\nIUSF said the rule will likely stand for several years.\n"This is definitely something that's a five-year plan," said IUSF Director Jenny Bruffey.\nThe initiative is something IUSF has considered for several years, but Jonathan Purvis, assistant to the IU Foundation president, said now is the right time to enact it. \n"There are two types of people: those who pull off the band-aid little by little or those who pull it off all at once," Purvis said. "I'm the type who pulls it off all at once."\nPurvis and the other IUSF leaders told riders the rule change fits in with the foundation's mission and provides more leadership opportunities to students. They said they hope teams will embrace their student coaches, and Purvis said the teams that will be the most successful will be the ones who embrace the rule. \nStill, the IUSF leaders faced questions and criticisms from Little 500 riders. Men's and women's greek teams met with IUSF Monday night and men's and women's independent and residence hall teams met Tuesday night. \nMany riders criticized IUSF for not including riders in the discussion for the initiative. \n"To tell you the truth, I really like the initiative, but I don't like the way it was implemented," Briscoe rider Justin Boren said. He added he is less inclined to donate to IUSF and the IU Foundation after graduation due to the lack of student input in the rule. \nEwing said if IUSF could begin discussions again, he would like for them to include student opinion. \n"Do I think it would change it? No," Ewing said.\nHe told riders that IUSF has the responsibility to look out for the success of the race. \n"Nobody owns this race," Ewing said. "This race is much bigger than me, and it's much bigger than you. It is our job to set the framework, and I think in this framework you are given a lot of freedom."\nThat didn't ease riders' \nconcerns. \n"Essentially, you said it's your responsibility to structure (the race), but who are you responsible to?" Team Major Taylor rider Alfonso Lerma said. \nRiders also questioned the timing of the rule change. IU Foundation President and CEO Curt Simic sent a letter to the non-student coaches in May after the completion of IU's spring semester.\nIUSF hopes the non-student coaches can help mentor the new student coaches by creating the Alumni Coaching Advisory Board. The board's first meeting is October 12.