This week, news broke two Idaho football players were cited back in March after allegedly attempting to steal $133 worth of food from the Moscow Walmart.
Linebackers Christian Elliss and Dalton Cash both pled not guilty in Latah County District Court Wednesday, and we will have to wait to see how their situation plays out legally.
But on campus, the punishment has already been publicized by Idaho Athletics. According to the department, both players will serve a one-game suspension during the Vandals’ first game against Penn State. While the suspension may seem significant when considering the opponent — the Nittany Lions are one of the most prestigious college football teams in America — Idaho athletes represent the university on a much larger stage than the average University of Idaho student and should be punished in a manner that represents their added burden.
This is not to say student athletes don’t already go through enough. To discount the sheer dedication and grit it takes to both compete on the collegiate level and earn a degree would be seriously misguided.
But this dedication and determination is voluntary, and with the glory and status of becoming a collegiate athlete comes added social responsibility.
In 2015, two football players were caught stealing $400 of merchandise from the Vandal Store near the beginning of the school year. One player, Isaiah Taylor did not comply with the sanctions imposed on him by the team and shortly left.
Meanwhile, Dezmon Epps worked with the team and continued to be a contributor on offense for the Vandals. However, Epps’ Vandal Store incident was not his first run in with the law. The year prior, he was charged with stealing from Winco Foods and a misdemeanor DUI.
After three strikes, Epps continued to play.
It wasn’t until reports of Epps allegedly slapping his girlfriend surfaced that he was indefinitely suspended.
The news surrounding Elliss and Cash brings to mind the negligence of the administration from years past.
In recent years, the Athletics Department has mostly shown an ability to respond quickly and fairly, such as indefinitely suspending Kyree Curington after being arrested on a charge of rape.
But with small-scale crimes, the university and the Athletics Department continues to be seriously misguided. Elliss’ father works as the team’s defensive line coach, and the simple one-game suspension does not reflect what it means to be a member of this university.
Student athletes should be held accountable outside of a slap on the wrist. They should receive punishment on par with the shame and negative light they bring onto their school, negative light that affects the university and student body as a whole.
—Editorial Board
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story had Kaden Elliss’ name instead of Christian Elliss.