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Daytona Danielen and Kirsten Clark "I wasn't there, I didn't see it and I have no further comment," said Jeff Menday, the head coach of the men's basketball. On Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 1:30 p.m. students got involved in a physical altercation in the gym. During an open gym before basketball practice students engaged in a verbal confrontation that escalated to punching and possibly kicking. Randy Stegmeier, the director of safety and security, was in the process of interviewing over a dozen witnesses and those involved to determine what happened. At the time of print, Stegmeier's official documentation was not yet released but he gave the Ebbtide a brief account summarizing his findings. Stegmeier was certain that two students, one of which is a basketball player, were involved in a physical altercation. However, he said there is wide discrepancy with who said or did what. "I do know for certain that there were verbal insults exchanged and that the verbal insults led to a physical confrontation," Stegmeier said. He confirmed that the basketball player struck the student's face with his fist. The student may have also been kicked while he was on the ground, but Stegmeier was not certain. Stegmeier's account of the events is as follows; A group was playing a pick up game of basketball before practice. A student accidentally elbowed a young woman the girlfriend, of a SCC basketball player. This player tried to extract an apology from the student who elbowed her, and a dispute began over whether or not the student had apologized. The verbal dispute calmed down and players began to prepare for practice when another student arrived from playing soccer to see his cousin had been in an argument. This began an altercation between this student and a member of the basketball squad. Soon after the altercation began, Athletic Advisor Ken Burrus and Recreation Coordinator Steve Eskridge entered the gym and broke it up. The student involved is a member of the Muslim Student Association and made reference to racial comments being made. Stegmeier was trying to sort out what was said. "There were negative terms, slurs used on both sides." However, Burrus and other officials claim that racial motivation is unlikely, saying the player is African American. "It was a basketball thing that escalated because of tempers," Stegmeier said. The next day, the student and player met again. During an off-campus basketball practice a basketball player was injured and taken to Northwest Hospital by the team's manager. At the end of practice, Coach Jeff Menday sent the player involved in the altercation to pick up the manager. The student was at the same emergency room with Dr. Earnest Johnson having his injuries from the incident looked at. Johnson said he went away to make a phone call and the two students allegedly got involved in another verbal confrontation. When Johnson returned, the argument broke up. "Talk about an unfortunate coincidence," Stegmeier said. Steigmeier hoped to have interviews complete and a report made by Wednesday Oct. 30th. At that point he would send it on to the Interim Vice President of Student Services, Tom Curtis, to make an official decision. According to SCC Student Conduct and Discipline Policy 5030, students can be disciplined for "Conduct which is disorderly, lewd, indecent, obscene, verbally abusive or which carries a threat or perception of a threat of bodily harm." It includes conduct that can "endanger the health, welfare, or safety of other persons." Curtis said sanctions will be fair and appropriate. According to Stegmeier, the student had been asked three or four times whether he wishes to file a report. Stegmeier said that even though Washington state policy allows people one year post-incident to file charges, the student indicated he has no intention to do so. Students arranged a meeting in the PUB at 10:00 Monday morning to discuss and reflect on the incident. At the time of print there was no official decision reached and the report has yet to be released. The Ebbtide attempted to interview students involved but they were unavailable for comment. © 2002 Shoreline Community College™ |