Students seek to remove Richmond from football team

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A petition is circulating on Facebook to remove a Youngstown State University walk-on football player.

Ma’lik Richmond, one of two former Steubenville football players found delinquent in connection with the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl during a 2012 party, will play defensive end for the Penguins this fall.

The incident, captured and shared on teens’ cellphones, brought national attention to Steubenville amid a firestorm of protests.

The petition, found at change.org/p/bo-pelini-remove-steubenville-rapist-ma-lik-richmond-from-ysu-s-football-team, has more than 7,000 signatures asking for Richmond’s removal from the football team.

Ernie Barkett, YSU Student Government Association vice president, said he is glad the petition is out because it represents students’ voices that need to be heard.

“I would like for the administration to see where we are coming from as to why [Richmond] shouldn’t be allowed on the football team because of certain transgressions,” he said. “The hope is to see him removed from the team.”

In a statement issued by the SGA, representatives say: “We encourage Mr. Richmond to continue in his pursuit of a degree in the classroom, however, he should not have the privilege of being a Division I student athlete.”

Another petition was created Sunday in favor of giving Richmond a second chance. It can be found at ipetitions.com/petition/second-chance-for-malik. The petition incorrectly refers to Richmond as “Richardson.”