This post in no way purports to be the last word
on what for me is a sad and unfortunate situation. Neither is it intended to be the first word,
nor an insider’s word. Consider it a
personal word, a palliative act, a therapeutic reaction, a cathartic exhaling in
response to the constant coverage of my alma mater’s widely publicized transgressions.
I begin by stipulating the obvious. From beginning to end, and we are told that
spanned 18 years, many individuals skirted, or down right flouted the rules of
convention!
There are those, especially in the media, and
card-carrying members of the ABC (Anybody But Carolina) Club, who insist the
UNC scandal is “the worst ever”…in the history of the world. Of course I don’t believe that. But I readily concede, I am not only an avid
Tar Heel fan; I am a proud alumnus, and Life Member of the University’s General
Alumni Association. I have been visiting
the campus since the early 1960’s when my mother was treated for cancer at UNC
Hospitals. A decade and a half later I
earned a Graduate Degree from the Department of City & Regional
Planning. I’ve been a die-hard Tar Heel
Basketball fan since 1967, when Charlie Scott enrolled, and quickly became the
first African American to become a star basketball player in the ACC. As the promo goes at UNC sporting events, I’m
Leon Miller, and “I’m a Tart Heel!”
Despite a litany of bases for bias, I am
neither blind, nor dense, when it comes to UNC.
First and foremost, the purpose and mission of any university, and
especially the flagship institution of the State of North Carolina, regularly
earning recognition as a Public Ivy, is to provide an exceptional educational
experience to those students who enroll and matriculate. Clearly, over a period of 18 years, for more
than 3,000 students, the University failed to achieve its mission. It is impossible to stipulate the former
without conceding the latter. That is
unfortunate. I am disappointed, angry,
and embarrassed. I am not, however,
abandoning the ship. I’m still a Tar
Heel!
There is one reason, and one reason alone that
the activities at UNC can be labeled the “the worst ever.” The underpinning for that view is
simple. UNC has made more, greater, and
more forthcoming efforts to investigate its transgressions, and to subsequently
inform, not only a faculty or high-level academic council, but also, the
university community at-large, and indeed the world. That in no way reduces the sting, the stench,
or the stigma, but it does provide a clear window into the pathway the
university is taking to remediate both its internal business processes, as well
as its reputation. Carolina remains a
font of knowledge, and a Citadel of Learning.
The University of North Carolina has not only
conducted numerous reviews, both internal and external, it has terminated, prosecuted,
and or forced retirement of the principals tied directly to fostering and
executing the nefarious scheme that led to the scandal. In addition, UNC has initiated a vast array
of new and revised policies and procedures designed to ensure that administrators
never again repeat such academic indiscretions.
The University
has launched several initiatives to strengthen the academic experience for its
nearly 800 students who are athletes. Those include “Carolina Leads,” a
strategic plan that is a roadmap for all aspects of Carolina athletics,
including academics as well as the department’s alignment with the University,
competition, finances, community service, and the hiring and training of
coaches, administrators and support staff.
Those
initiatives also include the creation of the Student-Athlete Academic
Initiative Working Group led by Provost James W. Dean Jr. and Cunningham; the
hiring of Michelle Brown to direct the Academic Support Program for
Student-Athletes; and an increased role for the Faculty Athletics Committee.
The Academic
Support Program for Student-Athletes now reports directly to the provost, the
University’s chief academic officer.
Even among
Tar Heel faithful, the debate rages about whether the scandal was academic or
athletic. While it’s clear an academic
dreamed up and executed this horrible scam, I tend to agree with Chancellor
Folt, who in the aftermath of the now infamous Wainstein Report, declared, “Wainstein’s
findings definitely show that the fraud was both an academic and athletic
problem.” She went on to say, “The bad
actions of a very few and inaction of many more failed our students, faculty
and staff and undermined our institution.”
She termed it an “inexcusable betrayal of our values.”
There is yet
another shoe to drop. The NCAA still
must weigh in on this matter. I have no
crystal ball, so I will not even hazard a guess as to the scope of their
prospective actions. I know many folks,
who do not cheer for the Tar Heels hope one or more Basketball Titles will
disappear. I have heard others posit
that scholarships should be withdrawn.
Any or all of that could happen; anything is possible. Those who follow the NCAA know the Body is
capable of the unpredictable.
My alma
mater is culpable in this matter. I
neither seek, nor expect sympathy for their case. What I would hope for is a more balanced
presentation of the facts. Broadly
speaking, the media too often does what it does. That is, tell a sensationalized version of
the story, that while mostly true, omits or deletes key details necessary for
the presentation to be fair and balanced.
For example, I saw an article this week in a national publication that
asserted that 3,100 athletes took the paper classes of a period of nearly 20
years. The Wainstein Report was released
a month ago. That is lazy
journalism. Yes, 18 years is nearly 20,
but not only is it more economical to say “18 years,” it’s also accurate. Speaking of accurate, it is flat inaccurate
to claim 3,100 athletes were in the classes.
It is true that 3,100 students took the classes, but…less than half
those were athletes. That is a huge
piece of statistical misinformation.
I get it;
the story is not going away. OK, fine,
tell the story, just get the facts straight.
That’s all I’m asking. And that,
my friends, is my story, and I’m sticking to it. “Blue Heaven: One Man’s View!”
I’m done;
holla back!
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