Whether he is guilty or innocent, star FIU infielder Garrett Wittels should be suspended from the baseball team until the ongoing investigation into rape charges brought against him is finished.
Wittels, who was arrested while on vacation in the Bahamas and charged with the rape of two 17-year-old girls, will have to wait until April 18 before the hearing on the case begins.
However, the 2011 baseball season begins on Feb. 18 and Wittels, whose hitting streak is at 56, is expected to continue chasing Robin Ventura’s NCAA record 58-game hitting streak.
The NCAA has already said that they will not be taking any action on the matter, leaving it to the University’s Athletics Department to decide whether or not Wittels will be punished.
The Athletics Department has been largely silent on the matter, with Director Pete Garcia only commenting to The Miami Herald, saying: “We will continue to gather any possible information as it becomes available.”
The Beacon believes Wittels should not be allowed to play until he is acquitted of all charges. While the media attention gained from Wittels and his streak have been positive for the University, we believe the media attention from having a player under investigation for rape charges would eclipse any victories the Golden Panthers baseball team could accomplish.
If the University declines to take action, we feel they would they be keeping a dark cloud over the reputation of the Athletics Department, in addition to setting a horrible precedent for incidents of this nature in the future.
Other universities in the Sun Belt Conference have come across similar situations and have taken action against their players. Middle Tennessee State University had two baseball players who were arrested and charged with rape in December after an 18-year-old victim came forward to MTSU detectives saying she had been raped.
Later, both players admitted to authorities they had sex with the victim, who they knew to be too drunk to give consent. The MTSU athletics department immediately acted and removed them from the baseball team once the information came out. While this is different from Wittels’ situation in that the investigation is still underway, it is worth noting MTSU took action immediately after finding out about these allegations.
When MTSU Baseball Coach Steve Peterson learned from the school’s Judicial Affairs department two of his players were accused of rape, he took action and suspended them from the team.
In November, Peterson said he did not dismiss the players because he “in no way, shape or form wanted to compromise the investigation of both police and judicial affairs.”
We believe Peterson and MTSU set the best example in how matters like this should be handled. Even if Wittels is innocent, the situation he has put himself in has tarnished the image of the University and its Athletics department. Furthermore, allowing that distraction in the locker room would be a disservice to the entire baseball team.
The Athletics’ department must take a public stance on the matter. Staying silent is not an option, unless they deliberately want to make themselves look bad on a national scale. Give Wittels his due process, but do not allow him to step foot on the baseball diamond.
Which would be better: To break the streak while under an investigation into rape allegations is under way, or to break the streak after being found innocent of all charges? We think the answer is obvious.
I find it surprising and hard to believe that The Beacon does not believe in “innocent before proven guilty.” After all, its only one of the cornerstones of our legal system.
Not letting Wittels play before he is handed a guilty verdict is absurd. Essentially what The Beacon is saying is this: “Any athlete who is charged with a crime should be immediately suspended.”
And while I in no way condone or defend rape (it is abhorrent and a terrible crime against humanity), we are talking about an accusation here. Until it is proven in court via evidence, and until Wittels has a chance to defend himself (though the burden of proof is on the accusers), it remains an accusation.
Barring athletes from their respective sports in these cases would not only be unjust, unamerican, and against common sense, but it would also create a dangerous precedent: students suspended from organizations based on accusations.
These are very serious allegations, and if guilty, by all means kick Wittels off the team. But if he is innocent, however long he is suspended for cannot be given back to him. And the legal process can take a long time.
The MTSU example is a bad one for a couple reasons, and ultimately: who cares what MTSU does? This is FIU. If they jump off a bridge, should we? If there are lessons to be learned from MTSU’s handling of a different situation, The Beacon hasn’t demonstrated this.
The Beacon here seems to be carrying a pitchfork, an angry mob clamoring for “something to be done.” Now, thats an obvious exaggeration. Still, we should not substitute action for wisdom.
The Beacon ends with a question, considering most how Wittel’s possible breaking of the hitting streak might be perceived. I would think their concern would be more about justice (or even just fairness), considering we believe in “innocent until proven guilty.” Unfortunately, the answer to that implied question is obvious.
“Even if Wittels is innocent, the situation he has put himself in has tarnished the image of the University and its Athletics department. Furthermore, allowing that distraction in the locker room would be a disservice to the entire baseball team.”
Let’s assume that Wittels is telling the truth, are you saying that he is still to blame for two people falsely accusing him? That’s like the reverse of blaming the “rape victim.” You are blaming the “falsely accused of rape victim.”
So what are the criteria for acceptable sexual activity that the Beacon has decided are OK for FIU athletes? How are you going about policing these to make sure that all athletes are checking ID on their partners, using condoms, etc.? Is it only an issue for men? What about any women athletes? What kind of activity are they allowed to have? Is it only an issue of someone makes a rape accusation? What about knowingly or unknowingly spreading STDs? Are you doing condom checks on your athletes? Or is it just that there is a possibility of bad publicity that determines your judgments?
are you kidding? They should be punished before their guilt is established?