Name: SMU athletics requiring student-athletes to sign COVID-19 liability waiver before returning to campus
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SMU athletics requiring student-athletes to sign COVID-19 liability waiver before returning to campus

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1:52 PM on Jun 15, 2020 CDTSMU is requiring student-athletes to sign a liability waiver before returning to campus for voluntary workouts.The document was developed by SMU’s Office of Legal Counsel and requires student-athletes to agree that they cannot hold the school liable for anything related to COVID-19. It waives the students’ right to litigation.The Dallas Morning News obtained a copy of the waiver from a student-athlete at SMU, who requested not to be identified. It is unclear if the document is legally binding.A significant number of student-athletes planned to return to campus Monday. Another wave plans to return July 6 and another July 13.SMU athletic director Rick Hart said the document serves multiple purposes, including letting the student-athletes know about the risk and mitigating the institution’s risk.“[It] acknowledges obviously that we’re co-existing with a pandemic, just to be clear that, No. 1, all of our student-athletes know that there’s risk associated with returning to campus at this time and participating in voluntary workouts,” Hart said. "And then No. 2, making sure that they clearly understand, if for any reason they’re not comfortable doing so, that it won’t impact their eligibility or their scholarship status.”Related:The document is titled “ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK FOR COVID-19 SUMMER 2020”.“[I] further agree to voluntarily assume all risks related to the COVID-19 virus,” the document states.The student-athlete must digitally sign next to that line.At the bottom of the document, a signature is required from a parent or guardian if the student-athlete is not yet 18 years old.“[I], on behalf of myself, my heirs, successors and assigns, hereby waive and release SMU, its employees, trustees, officers and agents from and against all claims, liability, rights, causes of action, costs, attorney’s fees and expenses of any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, for any injury, loss, or damage, due to contracting the COVID-19 virus," the document reads, while requiring the student-athlete to digitally sign.At the end of the document, there are two options. Either agree with the above statements. Or decline to return to campus. Student-athletes cannot participate if they do not sign.If a student-athlete decides the latter, the document states that the decision will not affect eligibility or scholarship, and that they may have to file a medical hardship waiver as a result.The document also asks student-athletes to acknowledge that SMU spoke to them regarding health risks and that they had the opportunity to review CDC guidelines regarding travel. They must acknowledge they had the opportunity to ask SMU questions, and that those questions were answered.“[I] understand this agreement and any claims arising from my participation in intercollegiate athletics shall be construed according to the laws of the State of Texas, which shall be the exclusive forum for any lawsuits or actions brought pursuant or incident to this agreement. If any part of this agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the agreement shall remain in full force and effect," the document reads, while requiring the student-athlete digitally sign.In total, the student-athlete is required to digitally sign 11 times before returning to workouts.Hart. It will be a three-phase approach over six weeks that requires various forms of social distancing.SMU plans to conduct an antibody test and a diagnostic test upon arrival. There are no formal plans to do additional testing beyond the initial test. Part of the reason for the waiver is that SMU student-athletes are free to leave campus as they wish during voluntary workouts, so the school isn’t fully responsible for how their time is spent.If a student does test positive, they will be isolated for two weeks, and the school will conduct contact tracing on whom he or she has come into contact with. They’ll receive two additional tests before being cleared.“We have a number of options, depending on if they’re off-campus or on-campus and what’s their living arrangements," Hart said of how they’d be isolated, noting it’s possible student-athletes could be moved to alternate locations if they have roommates.Houston shut down voluntary workouts over the weekend after numerous players were symptomatic and tested positive for COVID-19. They did not test players upon their return to campus on June 1. an acknowledgment and pledge. Ohio State, whose AD, Gene Smith, told ESPN that the idea originated from the University of Indiana, has a document that makes no mention of preventing future litigation for its returning student-athletes..Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox.By signing up you agree to our

1:52 PM on Jun 15, 2020 CDTSMU is requiring student-athletes to sign a liability waiver before returning to campus for voluntary workouts.The document was developed by SMU’s Office of Legal Counsel and requires student-athletes to agree that they cannot hold the school liable for anything related to COVID-19. It waives the students’ right to litigation.The Dallas Morning News obtained a copy of the waiver from a student-athlete at SMU, who requested not to be identified. It is unclear if the document is legally binding.A significant number of student-athletes planned to return to campus...

SMU athletics requiring student-athletes to sign COVID-19 liability waiver before returning to campus

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