Freshman Athlete Placed on Probation

The Administrative Board Tuesday refused to postpone the disciplinary probation of a member of the undefeated freshman heavyweight crew or grant him a special waiver which would have allowed him to participate in the Eastern sprints in Worcester this Sunday.

The student in question was put on probation after he tripped over a chair, picked it up, and took it to an open window, and dropped it out.

Freshman heavyweight crew coach Ted Washburn expressed disappointment with the Ad Board's decision last night. Its failure to grant the special waiver was "an unnecessary and completely indefensible blow to 17 uninvolved and innocent squad members," he said.

"I completely reject the idea of using other people as the teeth in a punishment. The decision forced the realignment of both the second and first boats when they were undefeated and a championship race was four days away." Washburn added.

Inequities

The incident involves "a more general inequity problem with probation," Washburn continued. "There are two parts to this thing. First, the person involved in an activity himself suffers an infinitely more severe penalty than an ordinary student. Second, in most of these actions other people suffer needlessly."

Although he admitted he agrees with a general hard line on safety issues, Washburn said that if such a line is to be taken, specific violations that will be dealt with severely should be mentioned in the Rules and Regulations booklet.

"The boy's adviser argued the case before the Ad Board. He strongly recommended the probation be delayed," Washburn said.

"The board also had the option of using the special waiver--if they don't use it in these circumstances when will they use it." Washburn added. "The guy who knew the boy well recommended delay and a group of people who don't know him or even live in the Yard go against that recommendation. Who are these people?" Washburn said.

Dean Fox declined to comment on the case or answer questions concerning Ad Board discipline last night.

"I cannot respond to any question subsequent to a question about an individual. There might be a possibility that by answering a general question I would be answering a specific question," Fox said.

The Faculty Council put in writing on April 12 the Ad Board's power to allow students to continue participating in an activity during probation. Previously the Ad Board reserved the right to make exceptions to Faculty rules and had used that power to permit students to remain involved in activities.