According to news reports in several local media outlets:
Incident #1: A man walking with his girlfriend near campus alleges he was beaten up by two men who got out of a car, asked him if he’s a Seahawks fan, and attacked him when he told them he is.
Incident #2: A woman alleges she was knocked unconscious by a man who attacked her at a Seahawks street celebration in the U. District.
These media reports also say Seattle police are investigating whether two U.W. football players were involved in these attacks. This afternoon, U.W. football coach Chris Peterson announced the team has suspended both players indefinitely.
Of course, I can’t comment on the guilt or innocence of these individuals. At this point, neither is charged with a crime, and in any case, when people are accused of a crime they are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
The challenge for a university facing a situation like this is how to balance its conduct codes with winning games when these values come into conflict. Make no mistake, it’s difficult to kick star players off a team, which is why some athletes think they can get away with bad behavior. I would argue that how a university deals with such situations affects more than just its athletic program; if not handled right, it can turn into a dagger through the university’s soul. That’s what’s really at stake.