The decision from the Club Sports executive committee to cancel the remainder of the men’s club ultimate team’s season was extremely upsetting. The executive committee reached its decision largely to accomplish two goals: first, to punish the members of the team for this and other recent infractions; and second, to preserve the good image of the University of Oregon. It is clear to me that their decision is untenable on both fronts.
The men’s team played one point in varying degrees of undress. This is common in ultimate. While it may not be a good idea, the punishment is incommensurate with the offense. Perhaps the executive committee wants to punish the team for past offenses, but the team has already been punished for those violations. To hold them in double jeopardy without forewarning of the potential consequences of another infraction is unreasonable, and contrary to centuries of American jurisprudence.
The best thing that the University can do for its image is to let the men’s club ultimate team play frisbee. I was born in the Pacific Northwest, worked in New England, and went to college in the Midwest. The first time I ever heard about the University of Oregon was when I met players from the men’s club ultimate team. It has earned international acclaim for the quality of its play and sportsmanship. The players are the best ambassadors that the University could ask for. Let them play ultimate, and demonstrate to the world that we at the University of Oregon appreciate hard work and justice.