To the Editor,
I am writing about the recent decision by the University to suspend the Men’s Swimming Team for the coming year.
To provide some background on my perspective, I am a former Notre Dame student-athlete. I earned a monogram in each of my four years as a member of the Notre Dame Swimming Team, I participated on athletic teams since early childhood and I grew up in a family of athletes and coaches.
I agree with the need for appropriate penalties for those who violated rules or engaged in other improper behavior. Suspension or expulsion of individual students who violated the rules may be warranted. I strongly disagree with the University’s decision to collectively punish the innocent along with the guilty. This is grossly unjust.
Another aspect of this story that truly disturbs me is that the coaching staff is being held completely blameless while, as the Director of Athletics stated, “team members who did not participate in the conduct, and those who were planning on joining the team this fall, will suffer the consequences of this decision.” In my experience, coaches have always had a huge influence in creating and maintaining their team’s culture, and they should be expected to know about and react to negative behaviors before they become deeply embedded. Team members who did not participate in the improper conduct, despite what is being described as a very negative team culture, should be given credit for their integrity, and be treated with at least as much consideration and respect as the coaching staff.
If I was one of the current swimmers who did not violate these rules, or an incoming freshman who was planning to join the team, I would want, and expect, the opportunity to train with the team, however limited the number of members, and compete as a team for Notre Dame, even if that meant losing every meet. The Notre Dame student body is large and talented, so additional new team members might also be recruited. That would be a response that is consistent with the University’s values and of which we could all be proud.
In my view, the collective punishment that is proposed is totally contrary to the values of Notre Dame and this decision should be reversed.
Sincerely,
Andrew Petro
University of Notre Dame, Class of '78
andrew.petro@rocketmail.com
Aug. 20
