Abstract
There have been multiple occurrences where college
football players have been investigated sexual assault charges. The ethical
theories would view how the case would be approached and handled. The
individualists would explain that a head coach and an athletic director only
have to focus on the success of the football program. Individualists would not
think that the players are responsible. They would hold the head coach and
athletic director responsible for the players’ actions off the field.
Utilitarians believe that people should maximize happiness for oneself and
others. They would view the sexual assault case as unethical because of the
impact of a sexual assault case has on an athletic program and the impact of
females on college campuses. Kantians judge the individual decisions that
people choose to make. They would see that the sexual assault is unethical
because it violates the rights of an individual and disrespects the autonomy of
any individual which is irrational. Virtue theory would analyze how the case
since the investigation is a major issue that has not been solved yet. The
Oregon football program must figure out a solution to avoid being part of the
negative stigma that follows in the college football world. The program must
gain the trust of its students and fans sooner rather than later.
Company
Background
The Oregon Ducks
Football team is one of the most recognized Division I football programs in the
NCAA. The University of Oregon is well known throughout the nation and maintain
a high focus on the production of the university’s student-athletes. The
university primarily prides itself with high regards for their athletic
programs especially football. The football program began in 1894 and the
program started gaining more success once it moved to the Pac 12 Conference in
1964. The Oregon Ducks have won a share of twelve conference titles, four
division titles and three Rose Bowl Championships, the most recent in January 1st,
2015. The Oregon Ducks have played in eleven consecutive college bowl games and
playing 23 bowls games in the last 27 seasons. The Ducks had won four
consecutive BCS bowl games before losing during the 2015 season. They have five
players and three coaches who have been inducted in the College Football Hall
of Fame. The program has also produced six Pro Football Hall of Famers and 21
NFL champions. The Ducks thrive on winning football games every season and look
to continue building success after missing the opportunity of playing in a bowl
game for the first time since the 2004 season.
The
Case
Over this pass college football season, the Oregon
football team is under investigation after two players were placed with the
allegations of sexual assault. The two suspects are Tristen Wallace and Darrian
Franklin, who were both suspended indefinitely in October and continued their
suspension. Tristen Wallace remains under criminal investigation by the
University of Oregon Police Department. Wallace and former teammate Darrian
Franklin have been barred from campus. They have yet to be charged with a
crime, however, the investigation is still ongoing.
It remains uncertain the UPD investigations were part
of the reason that Wallace and Franklin did not play the entire 2016 season.
When asked regarding the investigations, the Oregon University Athletic
Department spokesmen chose not to comment about the situation. There have been
multiple incidents of Oregon football players being charged with a crime such
as former defensive player Austin Maloata was kicked off the team after being
arrested for two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree assault and a misdemeanor
count of DUI and former tight end Pharaoh Brown was accused for three cases of
violence though he was never charged for the alleged instances. There have been
an increasing number of incidents that have been done by former Oregon football
players.
The following incidents were committed by former and
current Oregon football players. In August, defensive player Torrodney Prevot
was suspended indefinitely before the season opener after allegedly assaulting a
former female student athlete. He was suspended by the university for two
years. Austin Maloata was dismissed from the team after a November 13th
arrest and was sentenced to jail on December 14th and placed on two
years of probation. Eddie Heard was suspended following an arrest in November
and pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of fourth degree assault.
Offensive player Pharaoh Brown was accused of being involved in three counts of
violence, however, he was never charged for the alleged incidents. The new
Oregon Football head coach Willie Taggart has said that the violence towards
women and the use of guns and drugs will not be tolerated for players in his
programs. The University of Oregon will not and should not tolerate these
devious acts that are being presented to the football program.
Stakeholders
The future of college football lies within its athletic recruits
and incoming students across the nation. Athletes and students would not want
to attend a university that has cases of sexual assault and violence against
it. Oregon has one of the most productive athletic programs and would not want
to risk being tarnished. The Ducks have an extensive fan base that could be
affected because of the number of cases that Oregon has been involved in the
last couple of years. Oregon values its fans, students and athletes alike and
is doing everything in its power to clear its name from these cases.
Individualism
The individualism theory is defined as the values and
rights originate within individuals and their interests are ethical. In an
individualist view, Wallace and Franklin are destroying the integrity of the
football program, the athletic department, and the name of Oregon University.
Friedman argued that management had to be responsible for maximizing profits
and stealing from the owners from the company is unacceptable. The future of
Oregon football does not want to remain in question to all the allegations that
have occurred. The players and the recruits that are applying to Oregon seem to
not care about the effects that their actions have on the athletic program and
the university.
Utilitarian
In the utilitarianism theory, one must maximize
happiness for themselves and others. Utilitarianism is an ethical tradition
that directs individuals to make decisions based on the consequences of one’s
acts. A utilitarian views this case as unethical due to the players’ actions
and how the situation will be possibly be handled. Consequences must follow
because of these actions. Wallace and Franklin were aware of their actions and had
knowledge of what could happen if their illegal activities came to the public.
The players wanted to maximize their own pleasure by taking advantage of a
young woman which maximizes her pain and minimizes the players’ pain. They choose
to assault a young woman and violate the primary rules of conduct held by the
team and the athletic program. This occurrence lead to the beginning of a
sexual assault case and the players involved were later suspended for their
devious acts.
The investigation is pending and is being handled
properly. Wallace and Franklin are still facing severe consequences such this
past season long suspension. Both players will be given further disciplinary
ruling with the possibility of being removed from the team. The players were
not concerned with their future with the team and possibly having a future in
the NFL. The stakeholders are now questioning what else they could do for the
future in preventing any possible cases of violence and sexual assault.
Athletes must avoid any student codes because they affect the team and the
university’s image towards the public. New head coach Willie Taggart has made
it clear that violence towards women and the use of drugs and guns will not
tolerated in his program. Coach Taggart has also mentioned that his players
will only have one chance to do things the proper way.
Kantian
Theory
A Kantian theorist would care the investigation of the
case and its results. Kantians are motivated by their good and seek to do what
is right and rational. Kantians must only act rationally to make rational
decisions. Unlike utilitarianism, Kantianism does not focus on decisions only
on the consequences. The players’ assault on the young woman is not an example
of good will, which violates the Kantian theory. Wallace and Franklin had to
have a negative will to commit this devious act. Kant believed people should
act to maxims that could be accepted and acted upon. Kantianism wants people to
understand every decision they will make and the actions that follow those
decisions.
As the investigation was under way, Wallace and Franklin
were later suspended for the upcoming 2016 season. Coach Taggart made it clear
that acts such as these will not be accepted on the football team and the
university. The suspension of the players may have impacted the rest of the
team as the team ended the season with a losing record after twelve consecutive
winning seasons. The university addressed the situation properly and proceeded
to cooperate with the Oregon Police Department. This makes the public believe
some form of justice to be placed upon the players to be punished for their
actions.
Virtue
Theory
A virtue theorist
focuses more on the means of things than the ends. Virtue theorists do not care
for the outcomes of situations. They only care for a person’s character and how
their actions reflect on them as a person. The players displayed poor character
in their decision making skills and prove to be unethical. The players violated
multiple virtues, which judge someone’s character. They used lack of character
and judgment when sexually assaulting the woman. They focused more on their
personal needs rather than the consequences that would normally follow.
The players are no longer seen honest and cannot be
viewed the same they were once before by other players, coaches, students, and
the public. They will not be treated with the same respect from others. They
violated the trust and honesty of their stakeholders. It will be interesting to
see how the players will be taken if they return to the team this year. Even
though the players have not mentioned anything regarding the incidents, they
would still be seen as liars if they say something that does not fit the
allegation.
Justified
Ethics Evaluation
Personally speaking, the players’ actions are
unethical and disturbing. Justice must be applied if there is conclusive
evidence that the players committed the crime. The players had no reason and no
right to sexually assault the victim. They should have known that there would
be consequences for their actions. College football has been played for over a
century but there has been numerous cases of football players sexually
assaulting women, abusing drugs, and being involved in gun violence. This hurts
how people view college athletes because they know athletes are able to somehow
avoid punishment for their actions.
The players could not defend their
position since situations like happen every so often. Honesty and trust are two
of the most important character values to have and Wallace and Franklin broke
both values for their own satisfaction. They did not prioritize their values
and athletic careers, which are affected and will continue to be affected in
the future. The carelessness and foolishness that the players displayed shows
they did not believe they could be caught. It also shows that they did not care
how their actions could affect others around them.
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