ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 1997 TAG: 9703260055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA THE ROANOKE TIMES
Sophomore linebacker Tyron Edmond was sentenced to two days in jail for hitting another student during a College Avenue brawl Aug. 31.
Virginia Tech officials said a new disciplinary policy enacted in late February will not result in more punishments for athletes who faced criminal charges before the policy's creation.
The policy - officially enacted Feb. 24 - says it is up to the school's athletic director to decide what action the university will take against student-athletes charged with or convicted of misdemeanors. Athletes charged with felonies will be suspended from practice until the charge is resolved. If convicted of a felony, the player will be dismissed from the team.
Larry Hincker, Tech's spokesman, said he met Monday night with Athletic Director Dave Braine to discuss whether that policy would affect a football player found guilty Monday of misdemeanor assault and battery.
Sophomore linebacker Tyron Edmond was sentenced to serve two days in jail for hitting another student during a brawl on College Avenue Aug. 31. He and seven other former and current football players were indicted on assault charges Nov. 6 in connection with the fight.
After the eight men were indicted, Tech athletic officials meted out punishments that ranged from one-game suspensions for the players who faced misdemeanor charges to suspension from the team for the one player charged with a felony.
Hincker said he and Braine came to two conclusions.
First, he said, "These players have already been punished [by the university]." And, second, Hincker said he and Braine believe it would be unfair to punish the players under a policy that was enacted after the players were arrested.
Important to the new policy, he said, is the fact that incoming students will sign a statement of ethics when they enter the university and therefore will be aware of the ramifications of breaking the law.
The players indicted in November obviously did not sign any such policy and will not be affected by it, he said.
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