NDSU Football Players Plead Guilty To Petition Fraud, University Officials Say They Might Be Punished

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Written By:
Rob Port

Oct 2, 2012
11:10am

The 10 current NDSU football players who were involved in massive petition fraud – they created tens of thousands of fake signatures on two different measures ultimately costing both a place on the ballot – have plead guilty to their charges. They will each get a $325 fine and will have to serve 50 hours of community service.

Meanwhile, NDSU football coach Craig Bohl says he “might” punish the players.

Coach Craig Bohl has said the team might discipline the players but won’t suspend them.

Right. Because this sort of massive fraud – this calculated dishonesty – isn’t worthy of a game suspension. Just a slap on the wrist. Almost undoubtedly because among these criminal players are four starters of NDSU’s championship team. And it’s clear that NDSU values winning football games over holding students responsible for their actions.

Pathetic.

North Dakotans should take two lessons from this debacle:

1) We need tougher laws for this sort of fraud. Faking nearly 25,000 signatures should be worthy of a crime more serious than a misdemeanor.

2) We need new leadership in North Dakota’s university system. From Chancellor Hamid Shirvani down to NDSU President Dean Bresciani, the way this has been handled is despicable, and yet another manifestation of the utter lack of accountability and transparency in our state’s bloated university system.