Kaylene Vieselmeyer
Columnist
May 6, 2004, Page 4
Finishing faithfully! This catchy phrase can help describe the final stretches of the school year. I also heard someone call it today, “a rush to the end.” So how can we finish it all and yet maintain our sanity. Well, for starters we can’t do it all in one day, even God took six days to create the universe and then rested on the seventh day (Genesis 1-2).
When it comes to finishing the race faithfully the first thing is about sometimes starting correctly or maintaining the course. Now we may have false started at the beginning, tripped on a hurdle or just got off the course. The important thing is that you finish. It’s true that many times we won’t win the race , but the important thing is that we started the course and finished.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers when ever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may mature and complete, not lacking nothing” James 1:2-4.
Out of this race of life we have gained maturity, wisdom, patience and perseverance. The same is true for our time at Doane. Many times its easy to get off course and forget the reason that we are here. We may trip at the beginning, be stopped by a hurdle or just deviate off the course. But the main thing is to finish what we begin. For many seniors this will be some of their last days at Doane and we wish you the best as you have grown in this maturity and use this knowledge granted!
The course maybe uncertain, but do not give up hope and more importantly never lose sight of the end. Finishing faithfully means believing to the end! Just like Paul put it, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained” Philippians 3:14-16.
More importantly just remember that the growing pains of life may over take us sometimes, but they need not defeat us. Chart your course on Christ and you will never go wrong, it may not be easy, but He will see you to the end!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
Showing posts with label Column. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Column. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Life’s lemons
Kaylene Vieselmeyer
Columnist
April 29, 2004, Page 6
Ever tried putting together a puzzle in the dark or putting it together without looking at the picture from the box?
Isn’t it true that our life is full of lemons of puzzle pieces that we try to put together?
Many of the pieces of life are easy to place, some may be broken and others may not fit right.
These pieces are the pieces of our life; they are things that challenge us, the problems, the stresses, the highs, the lows, the fears, the anger, the frustration, the joy, the laughter, the tears, the hate, the love and the list goes on and on.
Whatever the pieces of the puzzle are, they make up our lives.
But imagine life without these pieces, how would we grow? These pieces are the parts of our life that make our life exactly what it is and exactly what God intended it to be.
Granted we don’t always find the easiest puzzles to put together and we try to do it on our own.
Many times we think we know the right places for the pieces, but then we find out they just don’t fit. God then pulls us aside and places the pieces together.
Faith is a lot like that. We can’t always understand why we need it, but we do need it and we are so glad when Christ helps us to use it.
We are truly blessed that we do have the ability to come to Christ, either in prayer, in His Word or listening to a friend that has something special to say that can help our puzzle.
The best part about our puzzle is we don’t have to put it together alone.
God is there guiding the way. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
God’s promises to be there helping us to fit it all together.
It is true that right now we can’t see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit, but God can! The best part is He has already completed the picture.
“I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).
So when the pieces don’t fit or they don’t seem to make sense—don’t worry about it. We are not suppose to know how they fit—that’s God’s job!
Just let Him put the puzzle together!
Columnist
April 29, 2004, Page 6
Ever tried putting together a puzzle in the dark or putting it together without looking at the picture from the box?
Isn’t it true that our life is full of lemons of puzzle pieces that we try to put together?
Many of the pieces of life are easy to place, some may be broken and others may not fit right.
These pieces are the pieces of our life; they are things that challenge us, the problems, the stresses, the highs, the lows, the fears, the anger, the frustration, the joy, the laughter, the tears, the hate, the love and the list goes on and on.
Whatever the pieces of the puzzle are, they make up our lives.
But imagine life without these pieces, how would we grow? These pieces are the parts of our life that make our life exactly what it is and exactly what God intended it to be.
Granted we don’t always find the easiest puzzles to put together and we try to do it on our own.
Many times we think we know the right places for the pieces, but then we find out they just don’t fit. God then pulls us aside and places the pieces together.
Faith is a lot like that. We can’t always understand why we need it, but we do need it and we are so glad when Christ helps us to use it.
We are truly blessed that we do have the ability to come to Christ, either in prayer, in His Word or listening to a friend that has something special to say that can help our puzzle.
The best part about our puzzle is we don’t have to put it together alone.
God is there guiding the way. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
God’s promises to be there helping us to fit it all together.
It is true that right now we can’t see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit, but God can! The best part is He has already completed the picture.
“I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).
So when the pieces don’t fit or they don’t seem to make sense—don’t worry about it. We are not suppose to know how they fit—that’s God’s job!
Just let Him put the puzzle together!
Column: Nebraska should eliminate death penalty
Heidi Hochstetler
Staff Writer
April 29, 2004, Page 6
Earlier this year, the Nebraska State Legislature voted to put off a decision about whether to switch Nebraska’s method of execution from the electric chair to lethal injection.
They were asking the wrong question.
The real question is whether the state should allow capital punishment at all.The United States is the only industrialized western nation that still uses capital punishment.
In 2000, according to Amnesty International, “88 percent of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA.” Iran is not usually a nation with which we group ourselves, ideologically speaking.
In the 1976 case Gregg V. Georgia, the Supreme Court upheld the revised death statute in Georgia.
Since then, 38 states, including Nebraska, have remodeled their death statutes based on Georgia’s. Twelve states and the District of Columbia do not have active death penalty statutes.
However, several factors still render capital punishment unfair, impractical and problematic.
Robert Jay Lifton and Greg Mitchell, coauthors of “Who Owns Death?” describe the process of deciding who receives the death penalty as “highly random.” Conviction and application of the death penalty is often influenced by the defendant’s race, class and the quality of defense lawyers.
A law that discriminates against racial minorities and the poor cannot be constitutional.
According to Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, in 82 percent of studies reviewed nationwide, the race of the victim was found to influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or receiving the death penalty. Nationwide, about 90 percent of death row inmates could not afford to hire a lawyer when they were tried.
Another popular theory about the death penalty is that it acts as a deterrent for potential criminals. Real life, however, seems to work differently from theory.
One study on Texas executions between 1984 and 1997 concluded that the number of executions was unrelated to either murder rates or felony crimes, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Finally, capital punishment is a sentence that cannot be righted if a mistake is made. In the last 200 years, Nebraska has executed 43 men.
Of those men, one was certainly innocent, since his “victim” was discovered to be alive four years later, according to NADP. Evidence exists that another executed man may have also been innocent.
Lethal injection, while becoming the preferred method, is a particularly disturbing form of execution. Our society is already numbed to violence.
We shouldn’t further anesthetize ourselves by allowing government-sanctioned killing.
Staff Writer
April 29, 2004, Page 6
Earlier this year, the Nebraska State Legislature voted to put off a decision about whether to switch Nebraska’s method of execution from the electric chair to lethal injection.
They were asking the wrong question.
The real question is whether the state should allow capital punishment at all.The United States is the only industrialized western nation that still uses capital punishment.
In 2000, according to Amnesty International, “88 percent of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA.” Iran is not usually a nation with which we group ourselves, ideologically speaking.
In the 1976 case Gregg V. Georgia, the Supreme Court upheld the revised death statute in Georgia.
Since then, 38 states, including Nebraska, have remodeled their death statutes based on Georgia’s. Twelve states and the District of Columbia do not have active death penalty statutes.
However, several factors still render capital punishment unfair, impractical and problematic.
Robert Jay Lifton and Greg Mitchell, coauthors of “Who Owns Death?” describe the process of deciding who receives the death penalty as “highly random.” Conviction and application of the death penalty is often influenced by the defendant’s race, class and the quality of defense lawyers.
A law that discriminates against racial minorities and the poor cannot be constitutional.
According to Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, in 82 percent of studies reviewed nationwide, the race of the victim was found to influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or receiving the death penalty. Nationwide, about 90 percent of death row inmates could not afford to hire a lawyer when they were tried.
Another popular theory about the death penalty is that it acts as a deterrent for potential criminals. Real life, however, seems to work differently from theory.
One study on Texas executions between 1984 and 1997 concluded that the number of executions was unrelated to either murder rates or felony crimes, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Finally, capital punishment is a sentence that cannot be righted if a mistake is made. In the last 200 years, Nebraska has executed 43 men.
Of those men, one was certainly innocent, since his “victim” was discovered to be alive four years later, according to NADP. Evidence exists that another executed man may have also been innocent.
Lethal injection, while becoming the preferred method, is a particularly disturbing form of execution. Our society is already numbed to violence.
We shouldn’t further anesthetize ourselves by allowing government-sanctioned killing.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Column: Life’s lemons
Kaylene Vieselmeyer
Columnist
April 22, 2004, Page 4
The flip-flop season is upon us.
The sound of plastic flopping down the path and the sight of bare toes exposed to the cool spring air reminds me of service.
Feet are a frequent topic in the Bible. Feet are a symbol of service and how we are to serve one another.
I realized after a road march this weekend how important it is to take care of your feet and the feet of those around you. When the blisters come the trail seems to grow longer.
It seems the older we get the harder it is to look at them. Each callus, each blister and each crocked nail reminds us of the roads we have all been down.
The service of feet was especially important during Bible times since everyone wore sandals.
Feet would become very dirty from the sand and dirt roads which they traveled on.
Traveling by foot was usually the only way to travel.
In Luke chapter 9 we are reminded of how important the feet of Jesus were.
"When a women who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." (Luke 9:37-38)
Jesus used this symbol of feet to show something to His disciples. In the Gospel of John we find how Jesus washed each disciples feet.
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ He asked them. You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:10-17).
Jesus asks us to do the dirty things and the tough things for each other, even if it involves washing each others feet.
Doing for others as He has done for us. No matter the roads or trails that we travel our feet will be guided by Christ.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
Columnist
April 22, 2004, Page 4
The flip-flop season is upon us.
The sound of plastic flopping down the path and the sight of bare toes exposed to the cool spring air reminds me of service.
Feet are a frequent topic in the Bible. Feet are a symbol of service and how we are to serve one another.
I realized after a road march this weekend how important it is to take care of your feet and the feet of those around you. When the blisters come the trail seems to grow longer.
It seems the older we get the harder it is to look at them. Each callus, each blister and each crocked nail reminds us of the roads we have all been down.
The service of feet was especially important during Bible times since everyone wore sandals.
Feet would become very dirty from the sand and dirt roads which they traveled on.
Traveling by foot was usually the only way to travel.
In Luke chapter 9 we are reminded of how important the feet of Jesus were.
"When a women who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." (Luke 9:37-38)
Jesus used this symbol of feet to show something to His disciples. In the Gospel of John we find how Jesus washed each disciples feet.
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ He asked them. You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:10-17).
Jesus asks us to do the dirty things and the tough things for each other, even if it involves washing each others feet.
Doing for others as He has done for us. No matter the roads or trails that we travel our feet will be guided by Christ.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
No fear: Take risks in life
Laura Gieseking
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 4
I am the type of person who has that invisible list of ‘Things To Do Before I Die.’
I think it was created somewhere between the moment in elementary school when I chose to be an astronaut and the moment I promised not to become my parents.
I have always believed that God gave us a short time on this earth for two reasons: to help others as Jesus did and to live life to the fullest. Life is too short to succub to mediocrity. It is meant for adventure.
This past weekend, I checked rock climbing off my list.I was not alone. Freshmen Chelsi Klentz, Ben Schutter, Roni Hodges and a friend from Lincoln took the trip to South Dakota with me.
Before we knew it, we were scaling large boulders at Palisades State Park in complete darkness. The five of us didn’t bring a flash light, so we followed the lights from our fellow experienced hikers’ head equipment.
Though our leader packed a few extra tents, we decided to sleep under the stars. The romantic idea of this quickly faded as the morning light woke us to the fact that we were freezing.
I wasn’t going to let a plugged nose and frozen toes hinder my craving to climb.
We packed up camp and shoveled dry cereal, donuts, and fruit in our mouths for a quick energy boost. It was time. The 10 of us loaded into the van to begin our day’s adventure.
We drove to the same 60 foot boulder that we climbed the night before. The rock jetted high above the canyon river. We climbed to the top and our leaders began to anchor the ropes.
It was finally hitting me that I was really going to rock climb. It was my turn to be Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2 and that young man in the Marine commercial. All I could do was smile.
I was too anxious and excited to realize the reality of scaling a huge rock with only a rope to protect me. I didn’t care. As they lowered me down an incredible adrenaline rush raced through my body.
As I started my ascent back to the top, my eyes became focused on searching for each piece of the rock where I could place my feet and hands. To feel my arms supporting my entire body, I felt powerful. Just hours before I was back at Doane, stressing about my projects and papers due, and here I was playing on one of the biggest jungle gyms God created.
Adventure is out there and in all different forms. From rock climbing to falling in love, life is full of risks and adventures.
Make a list for yourself and start checking things off. Don’t believe people who say the best way to live is to play it safe. They don’t realize that trying and failing are a part of the game.
Don’t let your insecurities hold you back and allow you to take life for granted.
Think big and start climbing to the top. I did.
Want to join me?
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 4
I am the type of person who has that invisible list of ‘Things To Do Before I Die.’
I think it was created somewhere between the moment in elementary school when I chose to be an astronaut and the moment I promised not to become my parents.
I have always believed that God gave us a short time on this earth for two reasons: to help others as Jesus did and to live life to the fullest. Life is too short to succub to mediocrity. It is meant for adventure.
This past weekend, I checked rock climbing off my list.I was not alone. Freshmen Chelsi Klentz, Ben Schutter, Roni Hodges and a friend from Lincoln took the trip to South Dakota with me.
Before we knew it, we were scaling large boulders at Palisades State Park in complete darkness. The five of us didn’t bring a flash light, so we followed the lights from our fellow experienced hikers’ head equipment.
Though our leader packed a few extra tents, we decided to sleep under the stars. The romantic idea of this quickly faded as the morning light woke us to the fact that we were freezing.
I wasn’t going to let a plugged nose and frozen toes hinder my craving to climb.
We packed up camp and shoveled dry cereal, donuts, and fruit in our mouths for a quick energy boost. It was time. The 10 of us loaded into the van to begin our day’s adventure.
We drove to the same 60 foot boulder that we climbed the night before. The rock jetted high above the canyon river. We climbed to the top and our leaders began to anchor the ropes.
It was finally hitting me that I was really going to rock climb. It was my turn to be Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2 and that young man in the Marine commercial. All I could do was smile.
I was too anxious and excited to realize the reality of scaling a huge rock with only a rope to protect me. I didn’t care. As they lowered me down an incredible adrenaline rush raced through my body.
As I started my ascent back to the top, my eyes became focused on searching for each piece of the rock where I could place my feet and hands. To feel my arms supporting my entire body, I felt powerful. Just hours before I was back at Doane, stressing about my projects and papers due, and here I was playing on one of the biggest jungle gyms God created.
Adventure is out there and in all different forms. From rock climbing to falling in love, life is full of risks and adventures.
Make a list for yourself and start checking things off. Don’t believe people who say the best way to live is to play it safe. They don’t realize that trying and failing are a part of the game.
Don’t let your insecurities hold you back and allow you to take life for granted.
Think big and start climbing to the top. I did.
Want to join me?
Monday, April 2, 2007
Life’s lemons
Kaylene Vieselmeyer
Columnist
April 15, 2004, Page 4
How big was the stone? This question came to mind this weekend as I pondered the Easter season.
It seems as though the stone that was placed in front of the tomb of Jesus was a concern and is mentioned by each Gospel writer.
Matthew talks about how an earthquake came upon the earth and an angel rolled the stone way (Matthew 28:2). In Mark when the women were going to the tomb they asked one another, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they came to the tomb it was already rolled away (Mark 16 :3). Luke and John also mention how it was rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. (Luke 24:2 & John 20:1).
It is interesting that each account of the Resurrection mentions something about how the stone was rolled away. A minor detail, but a very big significance for the story!
Try to imagine the size of the stone or the tomb itself. The best idea when I think of stones or boulders is the magnificent rocks in the “Garden of the Gods” in Colorado.
These huge rocks tower over the land.
When I look at photos that were taken of my family next to these rocks it helps me realize just how small we really are.
Imagine a huge stone in front of the tomb of Christ. Most likely it took several people to roll it over to the entrance.
It is true that many times in our own lives we have a huge stone or boulder in our life that keep us from seeing Jesus.
Maybe we know and accept the risen Lord, but there is always something that we feel we need to do first; we have to finish this project or that job and don’t seem to have the time for Jesus.
Amazingly enough Jesus is all the time we need. His death wasn’t anything fancy, in fact it was horrifying and terrible. He endured tremendous torment, beating and insulting word. But He endured it all and on the third day the stone was rolled away allowing us to see the risen Christ.
It is still true today in our own lives and the stones that we build up. Maybe the stones are things like money, greed, envy, jealously, lust, self-centeredness, anger and the list goes on.
These things block our view of Jesus. Even our own busyness can get in the way of the One who really matters.
So find the stone that is blocking the light of Christ and ask Christ to remove it. Trust Him—He has the power to move mountains!
Columnist
April 15, 2004, Page 4
How big was the stone? This question came to mind this weekend as I pondered the Easter season.
It seems as though the stone that was placed in front of the tomb of Jesus was a concern and is mentioned by each Gospel writer.
Matthew talks about how an earthquake came upon the earth and an angel rolled the stone way (Matthew 28:2). In Mark when the women were going to the tomb they asked one another, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they came to the tomb it was already rolled away (Mark 16 :3). Luke and John also mention how it was rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. (Luke 24:2 & John 20:1).
It is interesting that each account of the Resurrection mentions something about how the stone was rolled away. A minor detail, but a very big significance for the story!
Try to imagine the size of the stone or the tomb itself. The best idea when I think of stones or boulders is the magnificent rocks in the “Garden of the Gods” in Colorado.
These huge rocks tower over the land.
When I look at photos that were taken of my family next to these rocks it helps me realize just how small we really are.
Imagine a huge stone in front of the tomb of Christ. Most likely it took several people to roll it over to the entrance.
It is true that many times in our own lives we have a huge stone or boulder in our life that keep us from seeing Jesus.
Maybe we know and accept the risen Lord, but there is always something that we feel we need to do first; we have to finish this project or that job and don’t seem to have the time for Jesus.
Amazingly enough Jesus is all the time we need. His death wasn’t anything fancy, in fact it was horrifying and terrible. He endured tremendous torment, beating and insulting word. But He endured it all and on the third day the stone was rolled away allowing us to see the risen Christ.
It is still true today in our own lives and the stones that we build up. Maybe the stones are things like money, greed, envy, jealously, lust, self-centeredness, anger and the list goes on.
These things block our view of Jesus. Even our own busyness can get in the way of the One who really matters.
So find the stone that is blocking the light of Christ and ask Christ to remove it. Trust Him—He has the power to move mountains!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Column: Corruption in college sports
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 6
When did college sports become breeding ground for scandals?
In the past, collegiate athletes were held to high standards. Not only did they excel in the classroom, they had physical abilities that most were not blessed with. Stepping onto the court or field took them to an almost god-like status among other students and those who watched them play.
Now come headlines riddled with controversy. Katie Hnida, former University of Colorado kicker, said in a “Sports Illustrated” interview that she was raped by a teammate while at Colorado. To compound matters, allegations of recruiting tactics that include alcohol, strippers and escort services are looming over the Colorado football program.
Reports came out in January, stating that a trial date for Carlton Dotson had been set for March 22. Dotson is charged with the murder of his former Baylor University basketball teammate Patrick Dennehy Jr. Matters were made worse for Baylor when an assistant coach came forward saying that Dave Bliss tried to portray Dennehy as a drug dealer.
Those instances are just the tip of the iceberg. Larry Eustachey, former Iowa State basketball coach, resigned after pictures surfaced of him drinking and kissing coeds after a game. Mike Price was fired as Alabama head football coach before even coaching a game because of spending a night on the town that included a trip to a topless bar. It seems no one can be trusted anymore.
The problem is obvious, but solutions are not as clear. One way to keep players out of trouble is to stress success in the classroom. Colorado basketball player Michel Morandais passed only one class in the fall semester, but is still allowed to play. Iowa State has a 21-year-old freshman on the basketball team.
He spent four years at a prep school to get his grades high enough to enter college, but still has four years of college eligibility left.
Rather than letting players be just athletes, make them be student-athletes. Enforce minimum grade point averages, require them to pass a certain number of hours, and make them attend classes.
A second way to deal with the problem is to improve leadership on the teams.
Coaches need to have more substance than just their winning percentage. Eustachy, Price and Bliss did not set good examples for their players.
The day after reports of Hnida’s rape accusations came out, Colorado football coach Gary Barnett said Hnida was “terrible” and couldn’t kick the ball through the uprights.
Keep in mind that Hnida was the first woman to ever score points in a Division I-A college football game. College athletes should be held to high standards, but the coaches should be held to even higher standards.
The problem is large and it will take time for any changes to come into effect, especially positive change. The first step to fixing the problem is recognizing it, however, and through coverage of scandals like the Hnida rape accusations, the public is beginning to see the problem.
Staff Writer
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 6
When did college sports become breeding ground for scandals?
In the past, collegiate athletes were held to high standards. Not only did they excel in the classroom, they had physical abilities that most were not blessed with. Stepping onto the court or field took them to an almost god-like status among other students and those who watched them play.
Now come headlines riddled with controversy. Katie Hnida, former University of Colorado kicker, said in a “Sports Illustrated” interview that she was raped by a teammate while at Colorado. To compound matters, allegations of recruiting tactics that include alcohol, strippers and escort services are looming over the Colorado football program.
Reports came out in January, stating that a trial date for Carlton Dotson had been set for March 22. Dotson is charged with the murder of his former Baylor University basketball teammate Patrick Dennehy Jr. Matters were made worse for Baylor when an assistant coach came forward saying that Dave Bliss tried to portray Dennehy as a drug dealer.
Those instances are just the tip of the iceberg. Larry Eustachey, former Iowa State basketball coach, resigned after pictures surfaced of him drinking and kissing coeds after a game. Mike Price was fired as Alabama head football coach before even coaching a game because of spending a night on the town that included a trip to a topless bar. It seems no one can be trusted anymore.
The problem is obvious, but solutions are not as clear. One way to keep players out of trouble is to stress success in the classroom. Colorado basketball player Michel Morandais passed only one class in the fall semester, but is still allowed to play. Iowa State has a 21-year-old freshman on the basketball team.
He spent four years at a prep school to get his grades high enough to enter college, but still has four years of college eligibility left.
Rather than letting players be just athletes, make them be student-athletes. Enforce minimum grade point averages, require them to pass a certain number of hours, and make them attend classes.
A second way to deal with the problem is to improve leadership on the teams.
Coaches need to have more substance than just their winning percentage. Eustachy, Price and Bliss did not set good examples for their players.
The day after reports of Hnida’s rape accusations came out, Colorado football coach Gary Barnett said Hnida was “terrible” and couldn’t kick the ball through the uprights.
Keep in mind that Hnida was the first woman to ever score points in a Division I-A college football game. College athletes should be held to high standards, but the coaches should be held to even higher standards.
The problem is large and it will take time for any changes to come into effect, especially positive change. The first step to fixing the problem is recognizing it, however, and through coverage of scandals like the Hnida rape accusations, the public is beginning to see the problem.
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