The Hardship of Being a Bully

I don't like giving convicted sex offenders much press, but Jerome Hunt's story stinks too much not to comment. The Argus today runs comments from Hunt's lawyer and the SDSHAA shedding some more light on how this convicted adult skipped school all last year but now gets to play children's games at West Central for another year. We learn that Hunt considers himself a victim, and that the SDSHAA, appallingly, has fallen for it. Among the highlights:

On KELO Monday, West Central Superintendent Paul Gausman made it sound like his district had no power to deny Hunt's open enrollment application. But evidently that didn't stop the Sioux Falls School District from finding a way to keep him out:

Hunt's lawyer, Mike Butler, said they first looked to enroll Hunt in a Sioux Falls public school but went elsewhere when the district's administration made it clear he would not be welcome."West Central, by far and away, was the most welcoming," Butler said, describing the reception in Sioux Falls as "nothing short of appalling."

Bill Smith, who Butler singled out as discouraging Hunt's enrollment in Sioux Falls, said what Butler alleges is not accurate. Smith, the district's director of instructional support services, declined to comment further because of student privacy practices. [Josh Verges, "Convicted Wrestling Champ Back in High School Sports," ArgusLeader.com, 2007.08.31]

Don't feel like you have to apologize, Mr. Smith: I suspect that if your district did give Hunt and his lawyer an off-putting reception, a vast majority of your district's parents and students are quietly thanking you. (By the way, Messrs. Butler and Hunt: when West Central brings Hunt to Madison for a game on September 21, don't expect the Madville Times or other parents to extend a welcome, either.)

Today's article reminds us that Hunt was convicted of attempted rape, not rape itself, and not required to register as a sex offender, as the judge held that Hunt's motivations weren't sexual. Great -- his motivation apparently was pure bullying, the desire for physical and emotional dominance over others. That doesn't sound like the sort of spirit we want in gentlemanly competition. Among the many things that appalls me is that Hunt couldn't satisfy his craving for dominance by channeling it into healthy competition and fair victories over opponents from other schools; he had to engage in filthy behavior that degraded his own teammates. If I were a student at West Central, I'd be nervous having Hunt in the same classroom or locker room. If I were a parent, I wouldn't put my student in that situation; I'd be reaching for the open enrollment form.

Shockingly, it appears the South Dakota High School Activities Association has bent the rules to let this convicted adult come back and play children's games. Had the SDHSAA been acting in strict accordance with its rules -- "We don't feel comfortable letting this convicted adult play high school football, but we have to follow our rules, which don't forbid it" -- I might have cut the organization some slack. But as Verges reports,

On Aug. 23, association executive director Wayne Carney granted Hunt's request, waiving a requirement that an athlete's eight semesters be consecutive.

"Waived a requirement" -- in other words, the SDHSAA had a rule (SDHSAA By-Laws, Chapter I, Part IV, Section 1, Clause (c) -- "Eight Semester Rule" -- p. 8) that would have kept Hunt off the field but decided not to follow it. (The SDSHAA does formally allow itself to waive its own rules: see SDHSAA Constitution, Article VII, Section 3, Clause (l), page 4. Note in the same section Clause (n), which states "Any waiver request that is submitted to the Board
of Directors or Executive Director must be initiated by a member school." Hmm... West Central must have really wanted hunt to play.) Just as bad:

Carney said Hunt's appeal met the hardship criteria. He said Hunt's juvenile convictions were "taken into consideration" in making his decision, but declined to elaborate.

"Hardship criteria" -- indeed, it must be a terrible hardship to be tried and convicted of a crime. Bullies can bear violating the rights of other people, but when teachers, coaches, or the courts try to hold them accountable for their crimes, they plead hardship. I am flat-out disgusted that the SDHSAA would have the gall to label Hunt's situation as a "hardship."

Funny thing is, as I hear it, none of the real victims in this case, the boys Hunt bullied and attempted to rape, skipped school all year. They went to class in Parker or in other schools where they open enrolled. They attended class and participated in sports and other activities, even while the trial was taking place, even when they had to go to trial and recount their horrible experiences. Some have probably graduated and gotten on with the next phase of their lives, while Hunt lingers in an extended childhood. Apparently it is much more important for Hunt to stick around and recapture the pretend glory of winning children's games instead of getting on with his adult life.

Crying that they are really the victims is one of the oldest tricks in the bully book. It is sad that West Central and the South Dakota High School Activities have fallen for it. Hunt has no claim to hardship, not compared to the kids he hurt. Hunt is no kid deserving a second chance. He is an adult -- a convicted felon -- who ought to be getting on with college and work, not playing games.