How to handle a scandal

Brigham Young University has leveled some of its harshest punishments ever against six football players for violations of the school's honor code. This followed an investigation into an off-campus party on Jan. 16 that was also attended by potential recruits to the university's football team.

The action seems appropriate and is a good response to a problem that seems to be plaguing college athletics in much of the land.

The six players were punished in connection with the party, during which alcohol was served and football players engaged in sex with a female BYU athlete. She withdrew from school immediately after the allegations were made. Of the six players, who were not named by BYU officials because of federal privacy laws, one player was dismissed from school; three were suspended for one year; and two were placed on probation but will be permitted to work out with the team when spring practice begins today.

BYU took a hard line with the worst violators, as it should. The integrity of college athletics depends upon institutions setting down rules and holding athletes accountable for their actions. They are, after all, high-profile representatives of their respective colleges and universities. The action also demonstrates that all students are expected to uphold the school's honor code, which prohibits the use of alcohol and tobacco and engaging in extramarital sex.

BYU officials have also embarked on a related investigation into the football team's recruiting policies and how well BYU's athletic department educates student-athletes about the LDS Church-owned school's honor code. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also owns this newspaper.) These also are prudent and important steps, especially in light of the recruiting scandal brewing at the University of Colorado. That scandal also involves allegations of underage drinking and sexual misconduct during recruiting visits.

While it is impossible for a football coach to baby-sit players and recruit 24/7, they ultimately are accountable for their players' conduct on and off the field. It appears head football coach Gary Crowton and his assistants did not know the recruits were at the party in January. One wonders why recruiting visits are not more carefully structured.

It is a question that Crowton and his assistants need to answer.

While college sports recruiting can be likened to courtship, meaning schools do all they can within the rules to curry favor with top athletes with the hope of a commitment, schools have a special responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of young and impressionable high school and junior-college students. Beyond liability issues, colleges need to be mindful of conduct that could be construed as violations of NCAA recruiting rules.

Seemingly, the best insurance against such incidents would be highly structured campus visits that give young athletes a taste of the college experience but provide an appropriate degree of supervision at all times.