I caution the Oregon Daily Emerald sports desk @@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Robert+Husseman@@to not consider fellow student Kiko Alonso@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Kiko+Alonso@@ to be guilty of the offenses for which he is presently being charged.  It is important to understand the legal system before writing an opinion that encourages Coach Kelly to kick Alonso off of the football team based strictly on conjecture and currently unsubstantiated charges. Our legal system exists to determine the validity of the charges: Until these charges are determined to be accurate and justified, the accused party is considered innocent.
At present, an investigation into these charges is being conducted. If this investigation warrants further legal steps, then that will occur within due process. Until the judicial system finds validity to the charges and legal consequences are set, Alonso is innocent of the charges being brought against him.
Another important and over-looked or ignored factor in this scenario is the possibility that alcohol and/or other drugs played a role in this situation. Mr. Alonso has a well-publicized and self-admitted problem with drugs, and it was his alcohol intoxication that got him in legal trouble a little over 14 months ago. If indeed the behavior occurred as reported, it is essential to determine if alcohol and/or other drugs were on board at the time. If so, there is a strong possibility that Alonso was under the influence of chemicals with which he has a serious problem.
When he was first found to be guilty of an alcohol-related offense in February 2010, he underwent an evaluation by a licensed professional to determine the level of treatment appropriate to his problem with drugs. While the results of that evaluation are not for public record, it is safe to say that, if this recent incident is drug-related, then Alonso was experiencing the results of a relapse. In the field of addiction studies and treatment, relapse is understood to be part of recovery. Again, if this behavior is determined to be true as charged, and if he was under the influence of drugs, it is important to understand that he was acting while in the state of intoxication; that is, under the influence of a chemical which acts as a poison — toxic — to his entire system. A poison to his mind, his body and his spirit.
At this point, there is much that is unknown about this situation. We don’t know if he is guilty of the behaviors as charged. We also don’t know if he was under the influence of mind-altering substances while engaging in said behaviors. If it is determined that Mr Alonzo did indeed act in an unlawful manner, it is crucial to know if drugs were on board, thereby poisoning his judgment. If drugs were in his system when these alleged incidents occurred, there is much more to consider than the legal and/or administrative consequences of these actions. Addiction is a chronic disease, for which there is no known cure. For an individual with this disease, continued use will lead to jail, institutions and eventually death.
It is simple and easy to rush to judgment when only looking at what appears on the surface of any situation. In the spirit of good journalism and compassion for your fellow student, I encourage you to take a closer and deeper look at this situation.
Michael Connelly@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Michael+Connelly@@
Adjunct Professor
Substance Abuse Prevention Program