Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 Source: South Bend Tribune (IN) Copyright: 2007 South Bend Tribune Contact: http://www.southbendtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/621 ND STUDENTS' VIEWS DIFFER ON PLAYER'S SUSPENSION Mcalarney Punishment Hot Topic on Campus SOUTH BEND -- Kyle McAlarney's suspension is what everyone is talking about at the University of Notre Dame. Students think the university acted consistently by suspending the starting point guard on the school's basketball team but are divided over whether the punishment fits the crime. The university's student affairs committee on Monday suspended the sophomore point guard for the spring semester for his late-December arrest and subsequent misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. During a routine traffic stop, McAlarney was arrested and charged with reckless possession. He entered a pretrial diversion program, and the charges will be dropped if he meets the conditions of the program. According to duLac, the Notre Dame student handbook, use of marijuana or other controlled substances by students is considered a serious offense, punishable by suspension or dismissal from school.With McAlarney's high-profile position on the basketball squad, the suspension has become the main topic of conversation in most circles on campus, students said. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine