Sac State Athletic Director Debby Colberg is taking a closer look at the department?s behavioral policies for student athletes.

She says that recent reports of football players causing problems is the main factor in why the Athletic Department has turned its attention to this issue. Colberg realizes that the rules were not very clear initially, and she would like to change that.

“We are not changing the rules, but there was very little guidance before,” Colberg said. “If they (athletes) know the rules up front, they will know the consequences ahead of time.”

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, David Braverman, pointed out that in terms of university policy, certain students should not be treated differently than others.

“An athlete could not be kicked out of school for cheating if a (student from another department) could not be,” Braverman said. “University policy can?t be applied differently to different students. But, each department can have their own policy relevant to that department.”

Colberg realizes these stipulations, and she is not trying to change the University?s policy.

“This is the Athletic Department, not the University,” she said. “Nobody?s opposed to (changing) it. I think all coaches are very concerned when there are these types of incidents. I think athletes would appreciate it. There is a responsibility there, and they view it as a privilege.”

Colberg?s general philosophy is to leave the policing of individual team behavior to the respective coaches, but this matter was brought to her, and she is forced to take action.

“Coaches have smaller policies. If you?re late or not in class…little things that they deal with,” Colberg said. “But things that end up on my desk are a different matter.”