On Tue, 2 Feb 1999, D B Doucette wrote:
> Bill Fenwick wrote:
>
> >More importantly, let's not lose sight of the fact that the players involved
> >have been charged but not even arraigned yet, let alone convicted.
> > Disciplinary actions at this point, IMHO, would be premature
>
> What if those involved were NOT "student athletes" -- how many days after
> the incident do you think would have elapsed before a story and their names
> made the police blotter in Fosters Daily Democrat (the local rag which
> covers the New Hampshire squad) ?   "A few weeks" ?? I think not.
 
Assuming it makes it in there at all.
 
> What kind of treatment is it by local law enforcement and University
> officials to leave the "student-athletes" hanging in the wind for a couple
> of weeks while they decide what to do ?  It's either incompetence, or
> special treatment to the "student-athletes".  "A few weeks" would never
> transpire if the alleged perpetrators under investigation were
> out-of-staters enrolled in the Arts & Sciences college...
 
That's 100% correct, and it's not so much special treatment as making
bloody sure that you are right. If I were arrested for a bar fight, the
number of people who would be interested *might* get into double digits.
That's because I'm not a public figure. That lack of interest also means
there is a lack of scrutiny of police and prosecutors' actions.
 
With a public figure (I'm assuming that UNH hockey players would be
considered public figures in Durham), there will be more interest and more
scrutiny. That means that a police department and a D.A. will suffer a loss
of public credibility if the public figure ends up being acquitted. As
well, police and prosecutors have to be aware that they are more likely to
be sued if something goes awry with the prosecution of a public figure.
Finally, there is a significant public punishment that goes with just being
charged with an offence, if you are a public figure. Law enforcement has to
be mindful of that.
 
Ideally they'd be this mindful when dealing with those of us who have
little- to no- public profile, but that just isn't going to happen.
 
> This weekend, Maine fans have every reason to yell "cheat" at Coach Umile.
> Burying a police matter...come on. Decide.
 
The idea that Coach Umile is "cheating" is a little much, unless being
involved in legal trouble carries with it a Game Disqualification, and
Umile hasn't been sitting the players out for that.
 
John
 
--
 John Edwards - Carleton (Ont) '96, Manitoba '00 - [log in to unmask]
                  "You're telling me the fun's over?
      Man! I'm still waiting for the fun tostart." - Brad Hamilton
The opinions expressed are mine alone, because everybody else says I'm weird.
 
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