Brendan DeVoue ’14, Eliza Dordelman ’14: The athletic probation policy at Episcopal has sparked much debate over how much discipline issues should affect athletic participation.
Probations, suspensions, and other punishments not only affect a student’s academic life but also directly affect their sports teams. Students who are punished typically will have an automatic two-day suspension from school and a twenty-day probation from extracurricular activities. Probation entails not representing Episcopal in any way, particularly in athletics. Students who are on probation are permitted to practice with their sports team; however, they are not permitted to compete in sporting events.
Tajmir Cannon ’14 commented “[Probation] could have a pretty significant impact on a team. It could change a whole season.”
The absence of any skilled player, especially on a varsity team, could be detrimental to the team’s success. There are absolutely no exceptions to the twenty-day probation that prohibits athletes from competing in sports. The Disciplinary Council will not change a punishment based on the necessity of the team. Head of the Upper School Geoff Wagg warned that in order to not hurt one’s team, athletes must just focus on not getting “caught doing something wrong before a big sports event.”
Many coaches and students are divided over the academic probation policy. Teachers believe students need sports in order to be successful, even if their grades are falling into the D range or below. Academic probation does not prohibit you from competing in sporting events and/or practicing with your team. People do not recognize the difference between the two probations.
Statistically, incidents having to do with plagiarism, cheating, or use of drugs and alcohol occur about a twelve times during the course of a year. Roughly twelve sports teams are impacted by punishments of suspension and probation. The purpose of these punishments is to teach students that there are consequences for their actions. The administration urges students to think about how their academic and athletic lives will be affected before they make an irresponsible choice which could lead to extracurricular probation.

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