You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.
This story originally ran in the Nov. 13, 1973, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.
The story has been updated for current basic AP style, but the wording in the story has not changed. Any ideas, perspectives or opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Sidelines.
President M.G. Scarlett will review the suspension of two former football players charged with possession of a teaspoonful of marijuana and a vial of stems, according to presidential assistant John Hood.
Defense attorney Charles Ray of the Nashville firm of Barrett and Barrett said Scarlett’s office would receive a written summary of the defense case “by Wednesday at the latest.”
Ray said Scarlett would be asked to reinstate Ronnie Martin and Randall Miller with their scholarships for eight semesters excluding the present semester.
“We want to exhaust the administrative remedies before pursuing the case in court,” Ray said.
The University Appeals Committee upheld the suspension voted by the Disciplinary Committee, but the student handbook, Rescue, says: “any disciplinary action is subject to final review by the president of the university before off-campus action ensues.”
During the Disciplinary Committee hearing, the defense for Martin and Miller contended that the evidence against Martin and Miller was obtained in an illegal search.
The defense said the permission slips signed by the players permitting their rooms to be searched were signed under conditions which violated the players’ Fourth Amendment rights.
The defense tried to bring up the case of two other players who reportedly were caught in the same raid with a small quantity of marijuana in their room, but were not charged by the university.
Associate Dean of Men Paul Cantrell said there was another case which was handled differently, but said information from those students’ files could not be divulged without their permission.
A brief drawn up for the hearing by the defense contended that two other players gave the same explanation about the marijuana as Martin and Miller, that it was left in their room by two weekend visitors.
The brief questioned why Martin and Miller were charged while the other players were not.
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