Cross-Country bares all

The cute butts of the men's cross-country team couldn't save their ass.

The team was disciplined for streaking at the long-awaited groundbreaking for the Lewis Environmental Studies Center. They passed through the ceremony while running across various parts of campus as part of an annual tradition.

All members of the team were suspended from use of college facilities and from official team practices for one week. The team was also suspended from Saturday's Ohio Northern Invitational.

The suspension included two members of team who did not take part in the naked run.

The suspension was a joint decision by the team members and new Athletic Director Mike Muska, according to Muska. "It was decided primarily by myself," said Muska. "I met with the team Saturday morning, the appropriate action was decided once the team and I had met and talked."

Members of the cross-country team declined to comment.

Muska first consulted Dean of the college Clayton Koppes and interim Dean of Student Life and Services Deb McNish. "There was a part of me when talking to McNish and Koppes that there very well could have been more severe action if we had not agreed upon it ourselves," said Muska. "In other words, I think if we had ignored it the GF Council could decide to discipline students or Student Life could discipline students."

In addition to the suspension, the team agreed to write a letter of apology to President Dye, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the General Faculty Council and Professor of Environmental Studies David Orr. They also agreed to meet with Dye, Orr and cross-country coach Thomas Mulligan.

Most parties involved seemed satisfied with the decision. "I felt good about Saturday because the students took ownership and responsibility for their actions. This isn't the bad-ass athletic director walking in and saying 'you guys were bad, this is what I'm punishing you for,'" said Muska.

Mulligan said, "I think that it's a lose-lose incident. I think that they understand the error of their ways and will hopefully be smarter in the future."

"Athletic teams police themselves, so if the coach and the A.D., and apparently the players, think that this was an appropriate sanction, then I guess it was," said Dye.

The appearance of the runners happened at an inopportune time. Many faculty members and facilitators had just come from a memorial to Anna Jones, the daughter of Professor of English Nick Jones, who was killed at Bard College last week.

"The cross country team could not possibly in any way, shape or form know what was going on. If it had been a different setting, I might have reacted differently," said Muska.

Most attendees at the groundbreaking did not seem particularly upset by the streakers' appearance. Submerged laughter and startled looks wafted through the crowds as team members ran through the ceremony and near the infamous groundbreaking shovels.

"My first cousin once-removed is a trustee, and he thought it was great," said college sophomore Sam Hopkins.

The runners passed by and continued across campus at a sharp pace.

Two Oberlin Security officers trotted swiftly after the retreating players to prevent their possible return.

President Nancy Dye was somewhat amused. "People seemed very mellow about it. My first thought was that this was some sort of, admittedly eccentric, demonstration against the building, some sort of environmentalist protest. I thought "Oh, geez." And then I realized it was the cross-country team," she laughed.

The College has no specific guidelines for discipline is cases such as this, according to Muska. "We have to make judgment in a case-by-case situation," he said.

The 1997-98 Student Rules and Regulations section on Social Conduct includes a Faculty Statement on Freedom of Speech and Expression, which states, "It is important that freedom of speech and freedom of expression be guaranteed to individuals and groups to express whatever views they wish, so long as they do not interfere with the rights of others."

However, a previously adopted Faculty Statement on Social and Political Unrest states, "Acts of social and political protest.... should not violate standards of civility and respect."

Some student-athletes were concerned that the team as a whole was punished. However, most student-athletes supported the decision, agreeing that the run may have crossed certain lines of propriety.

"It's embarrassing for the school. If the administration was sufficiently embarrassed to feel the need to bring action against them, it's fully within their powers," said college sophomore Ian Maher.

"Nudity is not wrong, but you have to have a little respect for the people you do it around," said double-degree sophomore Caleb Stokes.