BY ROB ROGERS
Editor’s note:Names of Fight Club members have not been used. Instead, they have been identified by their fight club names.
Provo’s Fight Club is raising a lot of questions.
It raises questions because there is no specific law that makes the fighting illegal.
It raises questions because the fighters could be held liable if someone is injured or killed.
It raises questions because it may not the most morally sound activity to participate in.
Just like in a good episode of “Law and Order,” police enforce the laws and city attorneys prosecute the offenders.
The police can break up the activity on grounds of disorderly conduct, they can issue citations on the same grounds.
The citation or police record would be passed on to the city attorney’s office and the city attorney would then decide whether or not to prosecute.
“I don’t know that what they’re doing runs contrary to existing laws,” said city attorney Rick Romney. “However, they don’t have carte blanche.”
Romney said police decide to issue the citations, and according to the facts the city attorney will decide whether to prosecute. If they feel there is sufficient evidence that a law has been broken, they’ll prosecute the offenders.
That leaves police officers to decide whether or not the fighters are participating in illegal behavior. Provo Police have yet to issue tickets to the fighters.
Citing the laws regarding disorderly conduct and having permits for sporting events, Sergeant Mark Troxel of the Provo Police Dept. said the fight club was illegal and dangerous.
“Things like this can lead to other illegal acts,” Troxel said. “People start putting money on fights, soon they start rigging the fights. There’s a myriad of problems here.”
The club leaders and founders have spoken out on the legality issue as well.
“We appreciate the work of the Provo Police. It’s nice to see our tax dollars at work. We acknowledge the police offers to cooperate with us and guide us so we can continue to operate Fight Club within the constraints of the law,” said Fight Club founder, Black Avenger.
However fight Club founders see things from their own point of view.
“Fight Club isn’t about violence. It’s more like a picnic where friends gather, but instead of enjoying a main course of ham and swiss on rye, they come to enjoy a feast of testosterone, sweat and tears,” Black Avenger said.
As far as BYU policy goes on students getting involved in Fight Club, BYU’s spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said the university discourages any high risk behavior.
“This matter has just come to the university’s attention,” Jenkins said. “But because of the safety issues involved we discourage students from becoming involved.”
Steve Baker, director of the Honor Code Office didn’t have a comment on the rectitude of the Fight Club’s activities, but said if it were to become a legal issue with the city, they would deal with it as such.
Criminal activity is dealt with just like any other honor code infraction, Baker said.
“It is usually just a little more serious,” he said.
But the Fight Club founders don’t see their activities as illegal, or even dangerous.
“I don’t know why the police are so concerned. Kids box everyday-the only difference is they don’t have an audience. I don’t know why the police have to get involved,” Black Avenger said.
“We just want to help kids have avenues to release energy without breaking the law,” said Fight Club member Johann.
However police aren’t seeing it that way.
“If we find the people involved … we will prosecute and arrest them,” Troxel said. “Neighbors shouldn’t have to put up with this.”
