Prior to Ashland’s winter break, a number of AU students and student athletes were cited by the city’s law enforcement for various misdemeanors and charges.

According to the Ashland Municipal court public records, 29 students were cited over the last weekends of the semester, seven of which were athletes.

Dr. Carlos Campo addressed the issue with the administration to ensure that situations similar to this do not become a regular occurrence at the university.

“Because there was a surprising number and particularly because there were a number of athletes involved, we wanted to make sure the Athletic Director and Student Affairs was aware and we took a proactive measure,” Campo said.

Both Campo and Athletic Director Al King have made it clear to students and student-athletes the seriousness of these situations and have been working together to create alternatives for students on campus to ensure they stay safe and out of trouble.

“We try to be proactive in these cases instead of reactive,” Campo said. “It’s not like we are reacting to what was a bad weekend, there is no other way to say it. But it was not the worst weekend we have had, but hopefully the worst weekend we will have again for a long time.”

Campo explained that the university is trying to set very clear guidelines for all students including athletes moving forward.

He said the university is going to begin to be more proactive about creating a better campus community. A change students can expect to see immediately is later Rec Center hours, which Campo believes will give students a place to go on campus.

“I know students believe that we should have limited alcohol available on our campus with maybe even a place for that,” Campo said. “That is not in our immediate plans, but we do feel that there is a dual responsibility for that.”

King conducted a meeting with AU’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee at the start of the spring semester and was encouraged by the feedback he received from the student athletes.

“They did exactly what I wanted them to do,” King said. “They are exceptional leaders and asked questions and gave feedback about where they want to see Ashland moving forward and that is what I asked them for.”

There have been ongoing investigations over the idea that colleges and universities aid their student athletes in lessening the backlash of accused crimes while participating in NCAA athletics.

ESPN’s Outside the Lines requested the police reports from several major programs in 2015 to inquire if all athletes accused of crimes were charged or prosecuted. Overall this study found that more often than not, the charges against a student athlete were dropped.

Campo explained that the university has a zero tolerance of behaving in ways that are outside of AU’s mission and what the school stands for.

“We do not and will not shelter any student, that means a star athlete and it does not matter who your parents are, if they are donors or legacies, it does not matter because we think the consequences are important,” Campo said.

Although the university will not shelter a student based on their involvement in athletics or other activities at the university, King said he holds the athletes at AU to a higher standard and they are made aware of the university and athletic department’s expectations throughout their recruiting process.

“The truth of the matter is, when you are in athletics, you are held to a higher standard,” King said. “So when I hear something that comes from downtown and they (law enforcement) have a concern, I am going to have a concern too.”

Other larger universities are confronted with these issues more often and at a larger scale as a result of their bigger community. Campo believes that the plus and minus of Ashland’s smaller community is that situations like this seem more significant, although it holds students more accountable because word spreads faster among a smaller university and city.

“We take deep pride in this institution, but we also believe in second chances, not so much in third chances, but in second chances for students because we think it is an important part of the college experience is learning from mistakes and continuing to represent us well,” Campo said. 

 Campo said the university will begin working with Ashland’s law enforcement and that Hannah Clayborne, vice president of student affairs, has already met with David Marcelli, Ashland’s chief of police, to discuss the issues and be proactive in the relationship between the university and the city’s law enforcement.

 “A lot of it is finding the balance between freedom and responsibility,” Campo said. “We think this is very natural and normal in the adult and college life that you do stupid things that you should not be doing and there are consequences.”

Holding athletes to a higher standard, King said his message to them is simple.

“Be a good citizen, don’t embarrass yourself, and don’t embarrass the university and the athletic department. You wear the uniform everywhere you go. You always have to remember whom you are representing. Make your coaches proud, make the president proud, and represent the university the way you would represent your family.”