Athletic Department has reaction to green-hair protest

The green haired boy protest unearthed a number of issues concerning the route a greivence must take in the athletic department. Organizers of the protest charged that the athletic department lacks a responsive body to hear complaints against coaches.

First-year Dan Romano was cut from the baseball team after he was asked to wash out his green hair dye. The coach felt the hair color was against team unity.

Coach Todd Mooney felt that he has said all he needs to on the issue and has nothing new to add.

About a Student-Athletics Department Liason, Athletic Director Don Hunsinger said, "I think we don't have anything like that." He explained a team rule as being like a class rule in that the coach makes the rules and they are not necessarily open for argument. "The rules are what the coach feels is appropriate with the team," he said.

Hunsinger said that most atheletes who have problems with a coach or policy come to see him or talk directly with the coach. Over the past two and a half years, he feels, there have been positive settlements surrounding any problems.

"This person never came to see me," Hunsinger said of Romano.

Hunsinger said a number of the members of the women's basketball team came to see him to try to resolve differences with the coach. They had a number of ways of addressing the problem, Hunsinger said, including talking to the Dean's office and the faculty athletic committee.

The baseball game on April 6, drew 20 to 30 spectators. About a half, Hunsinger said, were protestors. "A lot of them supported the coach, as I do."

"Everybody seemed to have a good time. Everybody was polite and mannerly," Hunsinger said.