Highlighting the significance of the appeals process in the Student-Athlete Discipline Policy adopted August 2003, UW-Madison sophomore basketball player Maurice \Boo"" Wade successfully appealed his suspension Monday, following his Feb. 4 arrest after assault allegations.
After review, the Appeals Committee of UW-Madison's Student-Athlete Discipline Policy modified his suspension from indefinite to two games, allowing Wade to rejoin the team immediately.
Wade's initial court appearance is scheduled for Thursday. If he is charged, the Appeals Committee can reconvene and discuss new developments, Associate Athletic Director Steve Malchow said.
""We'd have to find out what the charge was and we would consider that information and then make a decision about whether to re-impose the suspension or not,"" Chair of the Appeals Committee Bruce Jones said.
If the suspension is reinstated, Wade would have the right to another appeal. However, Malchow said there are few instances where cases would be revisited after one appeal. ""Basically, the appeal process is closed and finished at this point. It could be reopened if new information came forth that the appeals committee felt it was necessary to reopen it,"" Malchow said.
The newly adopted policy outlines rules and procedures regarding athletes accused of misconduct. According to the policy, athletes are suspended immediately following alleged misconduct but have the right to an appeal hearing within five business days.
The appeals committee, which hears and rules on each case, consists of four Athletic Department officials and one student athlete.
Under the discipline policy, the student athlete is allowed an advisor, but must present information to the appeals board him or herself.
According to Malchow, the appeals committee can uphold, modify or drop the indefinite suspension.
Prior to the policy's implementation, officials said coaches dealt with suspensions on a case by case basis.
According to Jamie Pollard, deputy athletic director and Appeals Committee member, the appeals process deals only with the issue of the student-athlete's suspension from practice and games and is not designed to judge whether someone is innocent or guilty.
""We've never been through a situation like this particular one. We've only had two instances of executing the policy,"" Malchow said.
UW-Madison freshman football player Ernest Mason marked the first case of an appeal under the new guidelines when his suspension was modified in December 2003.
