Post by touchline on Oct 2, 2015 20:17:51 GMT -5
I'm recent to the forum, have lurked and poked around here and there.
I was at a match at a Large Division 1 private institution not too long ago. I had been to matches here several times over the years and have had no problems or issues. I had even got to know some of the other local club coaches who attended over the years.
I was bit vocal on this day regarding some slight criticism of one of the OH's play. I did see a few parents glance over at me. Didn't think it was a big deal.
Once the match had ended I was standing on the bleachers waiting to see if any people I know might be there. There was the typical post match activity on court with parents, athletes and students talking and doing photos etc. After waiting around, sending messages on my phone and people watching a bit, One group even asked me to take a photo of them with their student athlete. There was some staff there standing around and cleaning up.
I walked out the arena towards my car when a group of campus police officers approach me. They start interrogating me asking me who I knew there etc. I told them I was there for the match and was leaving. They ask for my ID and do a check. They claimed a few parents had called in claiming there was a person making them feel uneasy by standing there.
I was forced to wait for almost 15 minutes before I was handed a ticket for "Suspicious Loitering" and given a trespass ban from University property. They informed me that it was private property and that they can ask me to leave for any reason. I tried to prob and find out what this was all about and they informed me that I had to write to the University Police regarding the issue. They told me the parents had complained to the coaching staff as well.
The following week I followed up with a letter to the coaching staff as well as the Athletic Facilities Director, and got the stock response of please correspond with the Police.
I emailed the university police asking for an explanation of what the issue was
and requested that they remove this trespassing as I have attended many events on the campus including several other sports and have a good record. I even told them to check the survellance footage.
They write me a letter informing me that they are upholding the trespass ban. No other details were provided
Now I am of middle eastern origin and felt that someone may have sized me up after the match and profiled me. I wrote back the Campus Police and the Head Coach along with the Director of Athletic Facilities. I was asking for details regarding the people that had made the accusation against me. Inquiring if perhaps some profiling had occurred. I even provided them my phone #. I mentioned that I had tickets to other athletic events that I would not be able to use.
The next day I get an email from one of the School's lawyer's and he writes asking me to send receipts of my ticket purchases and they would provide a refund of my unusable tickets. He tells me to strictly contact him regarding matters.
Now I've attended matches at dozens of schools and this was the only time something like this has happened. It seems strange that a group of parents can start accusing and influence the staff to do something like this.
I plan on attending a match with some friends at another school were this school is playing as a road team. I don't want to let that group intimidate me or prevent me from enjoying the match. I plan to sit with the home team's fans.
Is there something I can do to make sure they don't get away with just accusing me without any proof? I was planning on using my camera phone if necessary to record any situations.
This type of thing would never happen at sports like football,basketball,women's basketball. I sometimes wonder if its the nature of over protective parents involved with the sport these days. I don't fault the coaching staff because they would rather please vocal parents than some random spectator. But this is Division 1 scholarship athletics, there are gonna be fans you like and don't like at a match.
I was at a match at a Large Division 1 private institution not too long ago. I had been to matches here several times over the years and have had no problems or issues. I had even got to know some of the other local club coaches who attended over the years.
I was bit vocal on this day regarding some slight criticism of one of the OH's play. I did see a few parents glance over at me. Didn't think it was a big deal.
Once the match had ended I was standing on the bleachers waiting to see if any people I know might be there. There was the typical post match activity on court with parents, athletes and students talking and doing photos etc. After waiting around, sending messages on my phone and people watching a bit, One group even asked me to take a photo of them with their student athlete. There was some staff there standing around and cleaning up.
I walked out the arena towards my car when a group of campus police officers approach me. They start interrogating me asking me who I knew there etc. I told them I was there for the match and was leaving. They ask for my ID and do a check. They claimed a few parents had called in claiming there was a person making them feel uneasy by standing there.
I was forced to wait for almost 15 minutes before I was handed a ticket for "Suspicious Loitering" and given a trespass ban from University property. They informed me that it was private property and that they can ask me to leave for any reason. I tried to prob and find out what this was all about and they informed me that I had to write to the University Police regarding the issue. They told me the parents had complained to the coaching staff as well.
The following week I followed up with a letter to the coaching staff as well as the Athletic Facilities Director, and got the stock response of please correspond with the Police.
I emailed the university police asking for an explanation of what the issue was
and requested that they remove this trespassing as I have attended many events on the campus including several other sports and have a good record. I even told them to check the survellance footage.
They write me a letter informing me that they are upholding the trespass ban. No other details were provided
Now I am of middle eastern origin and felt that someone may have sized me up after the match and profiled me. I wrote back the Campus Police and the Head Coach along with the Director of Athletic Facilities. I was asking for details regarding the people that had made the accusation against me. Inquiring if perhaps some profiling had occurred. I even provided them my phone #. I mentioned that I had tickets to other athletic events that I would not be able to use.
The next day I get an email from one of the School's lawyer's and he writes asking me to send receipts of my ticket purchases and they would provide a refund of my unusable tickets. He tells me to strictly contact him regarding matters.
Now I've attended matches at dozens of schools and this was the only time something like this has happened. It seems strange that a group of parents can start accusing and influence the staff to do something like this.
I plan on attending a match with some friends at another school were this school is playing as a road team. I don't want to let that group intimidate me or prevent me from enjoying the match. I plan to sit with the home team's fans.
Is there something I can do to make sure they don't get away with just accusing me without any proof? I was planning on using my camera phone if necessary to record any situations.
This type of thing would never happen at sports like football,basketball,women's basketball. I sometimes wonder if its the nature of over protective parents involved with the sport these days. I don't fault the coaching staff because they would rather please vocal parents than some random spectator. But this is Division 1 scholarship athletics, there are gonna be fans you like and don't like at a match.