Alcohol policies vary for Tar Heels

A month ago, the North Carolina varsity swimming and diving team had no written or formal alcohol policy.

Five alcohol-related player suspensions later, that approach is a thing of the past.

“When we had some abuses, we began to sanction people,” coach Rich DeSelm said. “For some people that was enough. For others it wasn’t.”

The result is a zero-tolerance policy for drinking violations that carries a threat of suspension, giving the swimming and diving team one of UNC’s strictest policies.

“My job is to develop student-athletes,” DeSelm said. “But given the circumstances, I’m being vigilant and proactive.”

Larry Gallo, the senior associate athletic director, said DeSelm is one of many UNC coaches who opts to enforce more stringent alcohol policies than the one set out by the athletic department.

“It’s important that a coach has his or her own autonomy in terms of discipline,” he said. “Many people will find that coaches are tougher on their players than we are.”

 The department’s code of conduct specifies that “all team members will conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner at all times.”

The only provision that specifically mentions alcohol states that a student-athlete cannot consume alcohol on any “team trip or team-related function.”

Violations are dealt with on a case-by-case basis that can result in anything from reprimand to dismissal from the team, Gallo said.

In the past, players with drinking infractions have usually been required to take alcohol assessment classes through Campus Health Services. But there are often more sanctions that follow.

“On many occasions, coaches have suspended their players from a number of games,” Gallo said.

Chris Kennedy, the senior associate director of athletics for Duke, said Duke’s athletics department follows a similar protocol.

“The department as a whole doesn’t get between a coach and his or her players in disciplinary matters,” Kennedy said. “In practice, our sanctions tend to be more strict than the university as a whole.”

UNC field hockey coach Karen Shelton mandates a dry season during which players are to abstain from alcohol consumption.

The women’s basketball handbook distributed by coach Sylvia Hatchell states that athletes “must not smoke or consume alcohol. If you smell of smoke or alcohol we will treat this as if you have smoked or consumed alcohol.”

Volleyball coach Joe Sagula said he highly recommends his players keep a dry season. Although he said he has not had any indication of noncompliance, he remains realistic about adherence to the no-drinking policy.

“Do I think 100 percent do? Of course I would like to say everyone does,” he said. “Realistically, I know that’s an individual decision.”

Women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance said he encourages his players to abide by core values rather than listing rules and offenses.

“We’re not a collection of saints,” he said. “But we have some girls who are extraordinary examples of the core values. We allow peer pressure to drive good behavior.

“We address girls on a regular basis. The worst way to address it is after it becomes an issue.”

DeSelm, on the other hand, said the new policy puts the team in a better place to move forward.

“Given what we’ve gone through, we’re not talking about whether or not we can drink,” he said. “We’re talking about being great students, great athletes and great citizens.”



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.