I am a son of Syracuse alumni, and have always had the highest regard for SU, the athletics department in general, and Jim Boeheim in particular. However, this recent fiasco involving Eric Devendorf has me seriously disappointed in SU athletics and the way this incident is being handled.

If Eric was just an ordinary student, what do you suppose would have happened? I imagine he might have been suspended as originally ordered, attorneys and the media wouldn't have been involved, and there would've been an empty seat in a classroom as well as the stands at the next few SU games. And hopefully, the student would've taken away a painful, yet invaluable, life lesson to ponder while waiting to return the next semester.

But since the seat Mr. Devendorf happens to occupy is on the player's bench, and leaving that seat empty could jeopardize the potential of both his future earnings and the university's basketball season, it's highly unlikely that he'll receive any substantial or meaningful punishment. Such is the standard of conduct that has been set in our society for the wealthy and famous. Sadly, that standard seems to have now migrated into our beloved school. Mr. Devendorf, the university, and all Syracusans are the worse for the handling this incident has received.

Is this the university we're all proud of? This place of higher learning we hold in such high regard and pour so much of ourselves into, even well beyond our years as students? When a well-conditioned, 6-foot-4 male athlete strikes a much smaller female, and attempts to justify it by saying he was defending himself, I have to shake my head in wonder. And compounding that, how can the board re-package his initial “punishment” into a few short hours of community service in front of the media, conveniently expediting his return to the Dome, and expect anyone to believe justice has been served?

I'm no hanging judge, nor am I a bleeding heart, and yes, I do believe in second chances. But having been given a scholarship to this great institution, and also an opportunity to excel in a potentially lucrative sport, one would expect a person who has been given these many opportunities to be grateful, and to carry himself accordingly. Yet he has blemished our school with his actions, and the board has only exacerbated that blemish by treating him with kid gloves.

The University Appeals Board, the coach, the media, and the system have failed us. And worst of all, they have let down Eric, by letting him fail to be accountable for his actions. Perhaps they'll reconsider, but I doubt it. Maybe the Onondaga County D.A. will finally take action, but again, it's not likely. When money and fame are in the air, people tend to overlook certain “youthful indiscretions.” What a shame.

In parting, I would like to give Mr. Devendorf a suggestion: upon your return to school, please sign up for English 101, and this time pay particular attention to the following words and their meanings:

Gratitude

Responsibility

Accountability

Decency

Egocentric

Maybe then you, and SU, can really make the grade once again

Cameron Merrow

Owasco

U.S. Navy, retired