Students and university officials are expressing concerns about Iowa State’s investigation into a student-run bondage and sadomasochism group — an investigation some say is unfair.

Students and faculty have indicated in reader feedback to the Daily that they feel the university is unfairly investigating Cuffs, a student group with the stated missions of educating the campus about bondage and S&M. Students and faculty said they believe the group is being unfairly scrutinized because there are groups on campus, such as sports clubs, where physical contact occurs and there is the potential for harm.

“What bothers me about this situation is that it appears to me to be blatantly obvious that the university is going out of its way to make a big deal about this one event,” said Ryan Hanks, senior in management and computer sciences.

The investigation was spurred by the Dec. 15 Daily article “Pain and Pleasure: The stigma over Cuffs hurts community,” in which Cuffs President Harlan “Duane” Long Jr. is described demonstrating at a meeting how to properly flog and use S&M toys on another club member. The university is investigating whether student disciplinary regulations were violated during this demonstration

If the university uses the same rationale for investigating Cuffs, then the ISU Boxing Club should be investigated because its members are struck at every meeting, Hanks said.

Thomas Hill, vice president for student affairs, said his concern stems from Cuffs not having written regulations and rules, as many sports clubs on campus do.

“The difference is I know there are rules and regulations that govern a sport like rugby. There are rules of engagement. Is this the same circumstances with Cuffs?” Hill said. “To my knowledge, I’m not aware of rules and regulations that govern Cuffs.”

He said another distinction between sports clubs and Cuffs is that there are referees and certified officials present to oversee activities in sports.

“With the nature of flogging, do we have people who are competitive, or do we have dominant and submissive participants?” Hill said. “With sports and sports organizations, everyone is equal. I don’t think this is true with Cuffs.”

Long said he understands the university’s decision to conduct an investigation because S&M is not well understood.

“We are like sports groups and other groups on campus where there’s physical contact, just misunderstood,” he said. “People understand that competitive edge, but they don’t understand how bondage and S&M and love and caring go together.”

Long said there may not be a set of regulations to govern S&M, but there are several books, which Cuffs observes, that describe how to safely perform S&M.

“You can say there isn’t a process to certify people in bondage and S&M, but until there is a process to do that, [the university and students] will have to trust the experienced members of the group,” he said. “I understand the university being concerned about liability. The unthinkable can happen, but I don’t think there is a realistic liability problem.”

Long said members have to sit through a safety seminar before participating in demonstrations. Also, at the Nov. 10, 2003, meeting described in the Daily, there were an equal number of experienced and inexperienced members, he said.

Dean of Students Pete Englin and Director of Judicial Affairs and Assistant Dean of Students Bethany Schuttinga said the investigation is only meant to gather facts, and is not meant to harm the group. Both said the investigation is meant to make sure a safe environment for students is preserved on campus.

“If [university officials] are discriminating against Cuffs, I would doubt they would admit it,” said Andrew Tugan, GSB liberal arts and sciences senator. “I think if we look hard enough we can find some way to stop any unfair treatment of Cuffs.”