Rugby club cleared of wrongdoing

The IU women's rugby club is in compliance with University alcohol policies, according to results from a recent investigation from the Department of Recreational Sports.\nFollowing a Sept. 14 article published in the Indiana Daily Student, "Team throws down competition, brews," the investigation found that members of the club -- called the Red Storm -- did not drink as a team during club-sponsored activities, although recreational sports officials declined to provide further details.\n"Because of how the article was written and because it did involve alcohol, we had to take the necessary steps that we did," said Josh Downing, assistant director for club sports, and the main investigator in the case. "What they do in their personal time, I have no personal control over that. It's just when it involves the club I have to step in." \nThe story profiled the club, noting members' off-field social activities, including drinking. Team representatives argued the article unfairly portrayed the team in a negative light and created unwarranted problems. \n"These girls have worked so hard and for them to have it nearly taken away through a misquote or a misinterpretation of the reporter would have been a real shame," said Laith Shaaban, a team coach. "If there was any drinking going on, it would have been completely separate from the team. Like any other college student, if they should choose to drink, they do it on their own time and the team does not condone it." \nDuring the investigation, the team suspended one captain from leadership responsibilities, Julie Liszka, and canceled all post-game social activities to avoid any appearance of wrongdoing, Shaaban said. When the investigation was complete, Liszka was reinstated to her captain role and a new policy was implemented, limiting press comments to coaches and the team president.\n"Clubs recognize that media coverage is the best thing for a club," Shaaban said. "But if one slip-up or one misquote happens, then it can nearly ruin a club, like it did us." \nHe did not describe any specific misquotes.\nCurrent University policy from the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct states that no alcoholic substance can be consumed at a club-sponsored event, on or off campus. Stacey Hall-Yannessa, program director for club sports, said club officers are given a one-hour training session on policies at the beginning of the year, such as alcohol usage, and shown examples of serious situations that could cause problems. \n"(We) use a lot of scenarios because you can read the policy as many times as you want but until you use examples it's really hard to apply it," Hall-Yannessa said. "Sometimes it's hard to know where the line is drawn because one of the greatest benefits of being involved with club sports is you meet some of your best friends through that avenue." \nOther clubs have also discussed issues faced by the Red Storm in the fallout of its investigation. The Club Sports Federation, a governing body made up of representatives from all 48 clubs, has discussed issues about speaking to the press, although Hall-Yannessa said the decision to hold such discussion were generated by students, not the recreational sports department itself.