Opinion Thursday, November 17,1994 Page 4 Nebraskan Edtorial Board University of Nebraska-Uncoln JeffZeleny.Editor, 472-1766 Kara Morrison. Opinion Page Editor Angie Brunkow..Managing Editor Jeffrey Robb.Associate News Editor Rainbow Rowell.Columnist/Associate News Editor Mike Lewis.Copy Desk Chief James Mehsling.Cartoonist Spoil sports Athlete crimes warrant further study Athletes are conditioned to be as tough as animals on the playing field. But off the field, society expeas them to be role models. When athletes don't act like role models — when they arc arrested or convicted — the new's media often takes note. ' j Are athletes really more prone to committing violent acts, or arc their crimes simply made more public? That question was partially addressed in a recent survey. Two professors at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a graduate student at Northeastern University concluded that athlaes were in fact involved in more incidents of college sexual assaults that non-athletes. During the 1991-1993 survey, which studied student judicial records, researchers found athlaes made up only 3.3 percent of male students but comprised 19 percent of the convicted assaulters. However, a survey of campus police records showed no major difference in the criminal records of athletes and other students While data found in the study appears to be inconsistent, the issue of sexual assault and athletes docs warrant additional study. The study, “Male Student-Athletes Reported for Sexual Assault: A Survey of Campus Police Departments and Judicial Affairs Offices,” gathered its statistics from 30 unnamed schools with highly rated NCAA Division I programs It is unknown if the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln was one of the targeted colleges. But UNL docs meet the survey’s criteria of having a top 20 football or basketball team in the last three years. The Daily Nebraskan also learned that ESPN was on campus last week attempting to compile a story about athlaes who have committed sexual assault. They were specifically interested in the case of Nebraska defensive tackle Christian Peter, who pleaded no contest to third degree sexual assault charges last year. Athletic department officials declined comment to ESPN. Past cases can't be changed. But the discussion must continue. As one of the researchers, Jeffrey Benedict of Northeastern University, has said, the debate should shift to how the issue can be addressed instead of w hether athletes commit sex crimes. “There's a real makc-it-whilc-you-can, scx-and-moncy attitude in sports, and it's not so different in music, acting, maybe some aspects of politics,” Benedict told The New York Times. “But there's a special factor here; some of our best athletes arc trained in violence and deception, and they just can't turn it on and off when we want them to. And given the money involved, coaches and owners might not want to risk them losing their edge for the game.” The question lingers: Can we expect athletes to shut off their violence and step onto our pedestal? Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Fall 1994 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily relleci the views of the university, its employees, the students or the NU Board of Regents. Editorial column* represent the opinion of the author. The regents publish the Daily Nebraskan. They establish the UNL Publications Board to supervise the daily production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. The Doily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit material as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material should run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be relumed. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Letters should included the author's name, year in school, major and group affiliation, if any. Requests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union. 1400 R St., Lincoln. Neb. 68388-0448. fTouipJe UEvt Cttefm K i. >i-. f'fts. isvir vt\ rMWoU 1 'irr Tam th qMvm oT\ Tflfc ftO?t£...TU& GfOStM J WD W % tKfcft Scu\A,\ KV\ 'TME ^ ?