The ‘Athletic Code? has been used at Lake Orion High School for quite some time and both district officials and LOHS administrators say the code (which is different from the school’s regular code of conduct) has proven effective.
‘Certainly athletics is a privilege, not a right,? noted Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Ken Gutman. ‘When someone is wearing a uniform that says Lake Orion on it, we expect them to represent our community with class dignity.?
‘We’re very conscious that Lake Orion athletics are held to a higher standard,? added LOHS Athletic Director Bill Reiss.
Reiss said that administrators typically deal with about one percent of the entire student body on serious conduct violations each year.
In the realm of athletics, Reiss said that number is a bit lower.
‘This year, we have less than one percent, probably about half a percent,? he noted.
‘It’s really kind of expansive,? Reiss added. ‘They haven’t all been alcohol, drug or tobacco related.?
The athletic code, which is signed by every student athlete, offers athletes an opportunity to return from a violation, if they follow proper procedures.
‘Back in the 70s, it was a one and done kind of thing,? Reiss said. ‘We added some phases to give kids a second chance.?
After a violation, an athlete meets with a committee (usually three or five members), commonly made up of varsity coaches that are out of season.
‘Everyone gets a chance to present their case to the committee,? Reiss noted, saying that how an athlete conducts themselves in that meeting goes a long way.
‘The committee hears each student and hears their involvement and history as a student athlete at the school,? Reiss said.
Often times, Reiss said that athletes offer solutions that will be beneficial for both the student athlete and the school, such as helping others through their problems.
‘Sometimes when it’s heard from your peers, it might sink in better,? he noted.
In today’s age of technology and with a police liaison at the school, it’s unlikely that a violation of the code goes unnoticed.
‘We’re pretty sophisticated in terms of how we get information,? Reiss said.
With that in mind, a provision in the code allows athletes to ‘turn themselves in? after a first offense.
‘When you turn yourself in, that bodes very high in my mind,? he said. ‘Kids have a conscience and when they turn themselves in, it shows some level of maturity.?
Length of schedules are also factored into the committee’s decision, as the code says a first offense punishment cannot exceed 20 percent of scheduled games.
When all these factors come together, the committee decides on a proper course of action, though their final decision is not always announced publicly.
‘We don’t discuss these issues in the academic world with such scrutiny and that’s why we ask for privacy in most matters,? Reiss said.