Just in time for Little 500 weekend, a new Indiana University policy will grant immunity to athletes who intervene in potentially life-threatening situations involving underage drinking.
One of three new policies approved by the university’s Faculty Athletics Committee on April 12, IU’s Lifeline Rule encourages Hoosier athletes to provide assistance without fear of punishment from their respective coaches and administrators.
The committee concurrently approved a policy that will prohibit university athletic programs from accepting athletes with records of sexual assault or domestic violence. Also addressed were policies regarding fan behavior.
In addressing the Lifeline Rule, Jeremy Gray, IU’s senior associate athletic director for strategic communications and fan experience, said it’s a step toward ensuring IU athletes are not punished for acting in good faith.
“It grants immunity for doing the right thing to make sure teammates and fellow student-athletes are getting home safely,” Gray said.
The rule is the brainchild of Indiana junior swimmer Marie Chamberlain, who last fall presented a proposal to the athletic department’s student-led committee “IU Doin’ It Right,” which deals with issues relating to hazing, dating violence and alcohol education. IU senior football player Rashard Fant was also involved with creating the policy.
“There have been a bunch of studies done where athletes do everything all or nothing,” Chamberlain said. “Partying is no exception. From talking to people in different sports, I think we’ve all experienced someone who should’ve gone to the hospital, but we were too scared to call 911 because of what would happen to our athletic careers.”