When you think of rugby, what comes to mind? Some may think of big hits, or "that thing when they lift the guys in the air." At Gonzaga, many think of a culture surrounded by alcohol. Indeed, that is what rugby was about at Gonzaga, and that is part of what led the club to being suspended.
Last week's Bulletin featured an article on the actions of the now off-campus club. As a member of the Outlaw Rugby Club (the name adopted last year after being suspended), I was disappointed to see that the article focused only on what Gonzaga Rugby used to be prior to the suspension and not what has changed.
Our club was suspended for the entirety of the 2009-2010 academic year; a suspension we brought upon ourselves with our actions. This summer, the club officers spent their time not only putting together documents to apply for reinstatement, but also working hard to change the culture within the club. We no longer wanted to be a social rugby club, but rather a rugby team that excels at just that, rugby.
Part of this is our new club alcohol policy. Club members have pledged to not consume alcohol the night before a game. And at the socials that are a part of rugby culture, only those who are of legal age may drink alcohol. To enforce this, our socials will be held at restaurants.
We also have made community service part of being a rugger. Every club at Gonzaga is required to do a service project each semester. We not only will do that, but each member of the team also is doing 10 extra hours of service per semester. We want to contribute positively to our community, and this service is one avenue for us to accomplish that.
The article also stated "even though the club team cannot be affiliated with Gonzaga, this hasn't stopped them from putting on their small shorts and banging heads and cups full of beer with their opponents." Though we have played two friendly matches so far this year, we have not attended any socials. We know any mistake on our part could possibly destroy any chance of reinstatement, so we have avoided putting ourselves in that position.
Though we are continuing to play games, the sanctions we brought upon ourselves still hurt. We are unable to play in our league this season, making us ineligible for playoffs. We cannot use any of the resources the school has for club sports, and our home field is now Mission Park. But it's more than that. We do not get to wear our jerseys that say Gonzaga University. There is an inherent pride for every athlete in putting on a jersey that has your school's name on it, and that is a pride we forfeited by our actions.
The goal for our club is to be back on campus. But it is also for us to shift our culture away from what it has been, to what it should be. We want to be a successful team on the field that also represents Gonzaga's mission off the field. Many of our players involved in the incident last year have graduated, and we have a new core of dedicated individuals. We want 2009 to be the last time the rugby team is facing disciplinary issues. From now on, we want to be known for our success on the field. And hopefully someday soon, that field can be Mulligan.
is a member of the 
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