Last Tuesday, Gov. Jim Doyle visited the campus in honor of the Pavilion’s grand opening. Ah yes, the renovated athletic facility, an impressive new home for the Panthers.

And how proud of them we are, since the men’s basketball team won the Horizon League championship and reached the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 last year — not to mention their notable presence this year. Our players are heroes, representing us across the nation to other universities.

Between the team’s success, Chancellor Carlos Santiago’s research initiative and even being named one of Milwaukee’s “Top 10 Gems” during the city’s 160th birthday party, our arrogance has surfaced enough to believe that our academe should be called “Wisconsin State University.”

At a time when our “Panther Pride” is at a maximum, we need to make sure that our standards elevate to a similar degree. Therefore, in order to protect the Panthers’ — and ultimately the university’s — rising image, coach Rob Jeter needs to yank recruit Leneal Harris’ scholarship and withdraw his invitation to play with the Panthers.

Last week, Harris, who is Jeter’s first local recruit, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute while armed, a felony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

What a shame that this all-state honoree of Milwaukee King, who has already made so many proud, has let so many down: his school, his King coach, his mother — once a UWM student herself, and above all, a hopeful Jeter.

Perhaps he is in disbelief that his prized pick is busy slangin’ weed instead of shootin’ hoops, because Jeter isn’t saying whether or not Harris’ scholarship still stands.

Currently there is no specific drug policy for recruits, according to Kevin O’Conner, sports information director, as they do not legally come under UWM’s jurisdiction.

Harris would not be under the jurisdiction until he actually joins the team.

On Friday in Madison, the University of Wisconsin Athletic Board unanimously approved a new student-athlete discipline policy, effective immediately. The policy will apply for any student-athlete who is arrested for or charged certain crimes, including delivering or possessing with intent to deliver a controlled substance. The UWM Athletic Board needs to adopt a similar policy, in order to ensure that athletes like Harris are not representing our university.

He doesn’t deserve to play with the Panthers, let alone have tuition paid for plus room and board.

O’Conner said that the department’s policy involves random drug testing, with the first positive test of both performance-enhancing drugs and street drugs resulting in counseling. The second positive test results in a team suspension and a third positive test results in a suspension. This is likely followed by a non-renewal of aid (scholarship) and thus a dismissal from the team.

Other extenuating circumstances, like Harris’, are handled on a case-by-case basis under the direction of Bud Haidet, director of athletics, O’Conner said.

Let’s hope that after being caught with a concealed weapon and 102 grams of marijuana in separate plastic bags, this “case” will result in Harris losing his scholarship. His “case” is not excusable, or worthy of a second or third chance.

Many students work full-time jobs and struggle to pay tuition to attend this “gem” of an institution. There are scholarships available to many distinguished students, both athletes and non-athletes, who bring credit to themselves and this university.

I say his scholarship is better-off spent on someone else, someone who would make an already pompous UWM proud.

Editor’s note: Harris requested and was granted release from his scholarship on Monday, the Journal Sentinel reported.

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