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MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The Big Sky Conference has adopted a rule that would ban student-athletes with convictions for violent crimes from participating in sports or receiving athletic scholarships at league schools.
Commissioner Andrea Williams says the rule sets the expectations the conference has for its institutions and their campus culture. It goes into effect for the 2019-20 school year and will apply to athletes signing letters of intent beginning next December.
The rule would ban athletic participation for current or prospective student-athletes who have been convicted of, or have pleaded guilty or "no contest" to violations including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual exploitation or any assault with a deadly weapon or that causes injury.
The rule was developed over the past year with input from the league and campus officials and student-athletes.
The Big Sky has teams in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon.
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