BLOOMINGTON — Indiana athletics has enacted a policy disqualifying its programs from adding any athlete with a history of sexual or domestic violence.

The policy bans “any prospective student-athlete — whether a transfer student, incoming freshman, or other status — who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony involving sexual violence.” It further defines “sexual violence” as “dating violence, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or sexual violence as defined by the Indiana University policy on sexual misconduct.”

Approved by the Indiana University-Bloomington Faculty Athletics Committee earlier this month, the policy is the brainchild of Athletic Director Fred Glass, and was written in consultation with a number of campus entities, including IU’s Office of Student Welfare and Title IX, and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“I think this will be an important policy to help protect members of the Indiana University community,” Glass told IndyStar.

The decision comes at a time when issues of sexual and domestic violence involving college athletes are raising debate and sparking scandal across the country.

In 2015, the Southeastern Conference initiated a ban on member institutions accepting transfers athletes with a history of “serious misconduct” — sexual assault, domestic assault or other forms of sexual violence.

Thus far, the Big Ten has elected to leave such decisions up to individual institutions, and Glass has stayed on the front foot in the area. At various points in 2015 and 2016 — and pointing to ongoing issues at other institutions, including Baylor — he distributed detailed memorandums and instructions to his entire department spelling out his expectations in any such situation.

IU has acted swiftly recently in cases with athletes and sexual misconduct. Kiante Enis, a freshman football player, was dismissed within hours of his September arrest on child molesting charges.

Now, empowered by the conference to handle said issues internally, Glass has formalized a policy that extends even further than the SEC’s, to incoming freshmen, as well as transfers.

“It’s something the SEC, with their transfer ban, I think raised the issue generally,” said Glass, who has repeatedly supported a similar Big Ten-wide rule. “We’ve been working on that since that time, in trying to put something together that makes sense for Indiana University.”

In drawing up the language of the policy, a copy of which was shared with IndyStar, Glass said his department consulted several campus entities, including the Office of Title IX, SAAC, IU’s faculty athletics representative, Kurt Zorn, and Glass’ head coaches.

It includes an appellate process, Glass said, acknowledging that “there’s always a chance that there’s going to be some person that gets caught up in this that shouldn’t, when you consider all the circumstances.”

But Glass also emphasized that any such appeal would go before a committee comprised of Zorn, IU general counsel Jacqueline Simmons and IU chief student welfare and Title IX officer Emily Springston.

“The key to that,” Glass said, “is those decisions are being made outside the athletic department.”

Indiana’s standing policy of suspending athletes accused of a sexually violent crime from competition until the matter is resolved remains.

This change, Glass said, strengthens his department’s position further.

“I think it’s new ground,” Glass said. “My hope is that we’re leading in this area, and maybe others will follow with, maybe not the exact same policy, but one that fits their particular institutions.”

Source: IndyStar