Date: September 13, 2012 For Use: Immediately

Contact: Barbara Spaeth-Baum Phone: 701-671-2483 barbara.baum@ndscs.edu

Dismissal policy followed for NDSCS student removed from football team
WAHPETON, N.D. (September 13, 2012) Jamie Kuntz voluntarily withdrew from North Dakota State College of Science last week. Prior to his withdrawal, he was dismissed from the football team for a violation of team rules following an incident at a football game. All students and faculty must abide by College policies, and this one is very clear, said John Richman, president of NDSCS. Kuntz was sidelined with an injury and volunteered to film the game for the team. Instead, his conduct with his companion in the press box, which was ongoing and explicit in nature, drew complaints from numerous parents and players. When asked about the identity of his companion and his reason for accompanying Kuntz to the game, Kuntz falsely identified the companion as his grandfather. Kuntz later admitted that he had not told the truth and was then dismissed from the team. In other words, instead of filming the game, Kuntz invited a companion into the location where he was supposed to be working and engaged in behavior that was a distraction to the team. When asked about the incident by his coach, Kuntz did not tell the truth about the identity of his companion and what happened, as he has since acknowledged. Based on this conduct, the football coach dismissed Kuntz from the team. Despite how this is being portrayed by some, Jamies sexual orientation had nothing to do with his dismissal from the football team, Richman said. NDSCS is a welcoming campus where individual differences are valued and respected. NDSCS is a two-year, comprehensive college with a residential campus located in Wahpeton, N.D., and a commuter campus, referred to as NDSCS-Fargo, located in north Fargo, N.D. NDSCS offers degrees, certificates and diplomas in over 80 academic options in traditional career and technical studies as well as liberal arts. The College also offers a variety of distance education and online courses. Approximately 99 percent of graduates are employed or pursuing additional education. Unlike most two-year colleges, NDSCS in Wahpeton boasts a university atmosphere with over 20 affiliated student clubs and organizations, music groups, theater productions, intercollegiate athletics, intramural athletics and numerous social activities.

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