ABC-7 looks at LCPS Code of Conduct in wake of post-game fight
Nine players from Las Cruces High School and Mayfield High School were suspended following an altercation on the football field Friday night.
Parents we spoke with disagreed with that decision. Some felt it was a “slap on the wrist”
Abc-7 looked into the standards student athletes in the Las Cruces Public School district are expected to uphold .
“We’re one of the biggest rivalries in the nation. There’s going to be trash talking, but that is uncalled for,” Gloria Roybal, a Las Cruces High School parent, said when referring to the fight.
Five players from Las Cruces High and four from Mayfield will not even be allowed on the sidelines during the next playoff game.
“We had 35 seconds of very unfortunate behavior by some athletes. We take that serious. We are not going to tolerate that,” LCPS Superintendent Stan Rounds said.
Some parents questioned the punishment.
“It’s emotional, it’s intense, but it needs to be a fair assessment on both sides,” Roybal said.
At the beginning of the season, all athletes and parents are asked to sign an agreement, the Student Athlete Code of Ethics and Conduct. Students are expected to “create maintain and promote the high ideals of sportsmanship.” Friday’s behavior undoubtedly violated the agreement.
The agreement broadly states players could face termination from sports as punishment, but there are no specific guidelines on particular incidents.
Superintendent Stan Rounds says administrators applied typical game-day standards in this instance.
“If you were to kick, stomp, or hit in a game, here’s what happens, exactly what happened to these players,” Rounds said.
Rounds maintains the district made the right call on the level of punishment. He admits bad decisions were made on the players’ behalf, but says there is no excuse.
“In athletics, it’s an opportunity for children rather than a right, to be an athlete. It’s an honor,” Rounds said.
In addition to the one-game suspension, players will be required to take a course on proper behavior before they are allowed to play again.
