The Academics and Compliance Committee of the UW Athletic Board discussed the ethics of running criminal background checks when considering the recruitment of a student athlete Wednesday.
Discussion began in early March after Sports Illustrated and CBS conducted criminal background checks on student athletes and found athletes across the country with criminal records.
Both outlets wrote an article questioning the ethics of allowing student athletes to play football for a university despite having a criminal background.
Among those with criminal records is UW-Madison linebacker Kevin Claxton, who was charged with home burglary in November 2007.
Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema decided to allow Claxton to play on the team, and since being admitted to the university, Claxton has adhered to Wisconsin's academic and behavioral requirements.
Dale Bjorling, an ACC committee member who ran the meeting, said he opposed requiring background checks on student athletes.
""On the surface, it makes a lot of sense,"" Bjorling said. ""No one wants a felon to be on campus. But at the same time, to make a hard and fast rule that says, ‘OK, we're going to run a criminal background checks,' is that fair? Does that mean we have to run a background check on every applicant to the university?""
The committee unanimously agreed that requiring background checks for athletes should be left to the discretion of the coaching staff. This is the way the policy currently stands.
Committee members said they felt it unfair to require criminal background checks for student athletes while non-athletes are exempt.
Bjorling said a vote regarding the implementation of a required criminal background check on student athletes will not occur in the near future.
