Mark Richt handed down a two-game suspension to Sanders Commings last Wednesday following Commings’ Jan. 21 arrest for simple battery. Though I’m sure the details of the crime are better known to Richt than to myself, I have to question the rationale behind the meager suspension for a charge of assault on a woman when stronger actions have been taken for arguably less severe crimes.

The police report regarding Commings’ arrest clearly states police were summoned to a corner of downtown Athens, where onlookers had seen him hit a woman. There are multiple witnesses in the case, and none of the accounts makes light of the incident. Yet Richt found two games to be sufficient punishment for Commings.

Sarah Morris

Commings recently neglected to make himself eligible for the NFL in lieu of finishing his senior season at UGA. He started all 14 games last year for the University and tied for fourth on the team with 55 tackles — there is no doubt he is a huge asset to the team.

I am a Georgia football fan and would love to see a winning season in 2012, but it should not come at the cost of downplaying the seriousness that is violence against women.

Using Commings as an example, Richt has effectively told the rest of his players that not only is beating a woman OK if you don’t get caught, but even if you do, you’ll only sit two games. Not only is this particular punishment shamefully light, but the fact that Richt has taken other arrests more seriously in the past again speaks to his devaluation of this crime.

Many fans will remember former quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who was completely dismissed from the football team following an arrest for five misdemeanor charges, including underage possession/consumption of alcohol, resisting/obstructing arrest and false identification.

Nick Marshall and Sanford Seay are two freshmen who were released just weeks ago for reportedly stealing from another UGA player. Freshman Chris Sanders was also released for “violation of team rules” according to Richt, but the law was not involved in any of the three men’s cases.

Three running backs, Isaiah Crowell, Ken Malcolme and Carlton Thomas, were all suspended one game after allegedly failing a drug test last fall.

Good to know that beating a woman is worse than illegal drugs but not as bad as carrying a fake ID, underage consumption of alcohol or stealing.

I think Mark Richt needs to take a good, hard look at the “code of conduct” and “team rules” he sets for his players. What he says and does speak volumes about his priorities as a coach.

After the fall suspension of the three running backs, Richt said he thought punishment of players had to be “… something that will sting, something that will make somebody think twice about doing something or other guys who are watching, make them think twice” [“Mark Richt blasts accusation that UGA selectively suspended running backs,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nov. 2, 2011].

But if that is what Richt really feels, he certainly dropped the ball on Commings’ account.

— Sarah Morris is a junior from East Cobb majoring in international affairs and women’s studies