2008 Woodie Awards
Athletics panel backs new pregnancy policy
Ashton Shurson - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
The UI Presidential Committee on Athletics approved a new pregnancy policy Thursday that will work to support female athletes who become pregnant while at the university.
"It's a proactive approach," said Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta. "I feel it's a good policy in place, and I feel comfortable with it."
The objective of the policy is to ensure that Hawkeye female athletes feel comfortable disclosing their pregnancies to minimize health risks.
Under the policy, females are encouraged to tell the sports medicine staff, coach, and team athletics trainer if they suspect they are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related health condition - such as a sexually transmitted infection.
Once disclosed, the staff can work to protect the athletes' and fetus' health and the athletes' scholarships. The scholarships, as well as their positions on the teams, will not be jeopardized as long as the women don't leave their teams.
In addition, the policy states that the pregnancy-support team will determine how long the player can engage in practice and competition. The student-athletes must also sign a waiver releasing the university from liability for any injuries sustained from athletics participation.
"It's intended to be ambiguous to cover everything," said William Hines, a UI law professor and committee member who presented the policy.
In other business at the meeting, Barta spoke on updates pertaining to the Big Ten Network, Hawkeye athlete criminal scandals, and the Hawkeyes' disappointing football season.
"Our expectations were certainly higher than [the 6-6 record]," he said. "We took our destiny out of our own hands."
Because of injuries and other circumstances this season, he said, the team played 31 freshmen. Coach Kirk Ferentz, he added, has also had more early oral commitments from recruits than ever before.
Although the football season is over, negotiations about the Big Ten Network continue. Barta said he encourages Mediacom almost daily to continue to work on it. Until there is distribution across the state, he said, "we aren't going to be successful."
Amid another controversy - athletes' criminal problems - Barta didn't have further updates, only saying that the alleged assaults at Hillcrest are in the hands of the police. Also, he said, Iowa football player Dominique Douglas is still suspended indefinitely.
E-mail DI reporter Ashton Shurson at:
ashton-shurson@uiowa.edu
"It's a proactive approach," said Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta. "I feel it's a good policy in place, and I feel comfortable with it."
The objective of the policy is to ensure that Hawkeye female athletes feel comfortable disclosing their pregnancies to minimize health risks.
Under the policy, females are encouraged to tell the sports medicine staff, coach, and team athletics trainer if they suspect they are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related health condition - such as a sexually transmitted infection.
Once disclosed, the staff can work to protect the athletes' and fetus' health and the athletes' scholarships. The scholarships, as well as their positions on the teams, will not be jeopardized as long as the women don't leave their teams.
In addition, the policy states that the pregnancy-support team will determine how long the player can engage in practice and competition. The student-athletes must also sign a waiver releasing the university from liability for any injuries sustained from athletics participation.
"It's intended to be ambiguous to cover everything," said William Hines, a UI law professor and committee member who presented the policy.
In other business at the meeting, Barta spoke on updates pertaining to the Big Ten Network, Hawkeye athlete criminal scandals, and the Hawkeyes' disappointing football season.
"Our expectations were certainly higher than [the 6-6 record]," he said. "We took our destiny out of our own hands."
Because of injuries and other circumstances this season, he said, the team played 31 freshmen. Coach Kirk Ferentz, he added, has also had more early oral commitments from recruits than ever before.
Although the football season is over, negotiations about the Big Ten Network continue. Barta said he encourages Mediacom almost daily to continue to work on it. Until there is distribution across the state, he said, "we aren't going to be successful."
Amid another controversy - athletes' criminal problems - Barta didn't have further updates, only saying that the alleged assaults at Hillcrest are in the hands of the police. Also, he said, Iowa football player Dominique Douglas is still suspended indefinitely.
E-mail DI reporter Ashton Shurson at:
ashton-shurson@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Quizzical
posted 12/07/07 @ 8:06 PM CST
Mr. Barta, what does, "We took our destiny out of our own hands" mean? Interesting phrase. Never heard a loss described that way. More accurately, W. (Continued…)
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