another Friday news release... during the NCAA tournament, no less

3/21/2014 7:02:46 PM

Quote :

"RALEIGH, N.C. — University of North Carolina officials appear to have violated state law when they criticized a reading specialist who concluded that some basketball and football players couldn't read at a third-grade level, the head of a government accountability advocacy group says. School officials' actions make UNC-Chapel Hill look like a bully, and they will make others hesitant to come forward, the president of the Government Accountability Project wrote in his letter to Chancellor Carol Folt. GAP President Louis Clark urged UNC-CH to investigate whether school officials have harassed or intimidated Mary Willingham, who worked with athletes and researched their reading skills. "In my 36 years of dealing with whistleblower cases, this course of action seems necessary and palpably prudent, and I implore you to undertake such a step immediately," Clark wrote in the letter, dated March 6. He also demanded that the school release the names of a third-party independent board that school officials have said is investigating Willingham's analysis of athletes' literacy. "Specifically, how were members selected, how is the panel's independence guaranteed and what is its current status?" he wrote. UNC responded Friday evening to GAP, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., that calls itself the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization. School spokesman Joel Curran said the school expects to release an external review of Willingham's data soon. He also pointed to the hiring of Kenneth Wainstein, a 19-year veteran of the U.S. Justice Department, "as independent counsel to conduct a new inquiry." The school hired Wainstein in February to conduct an independent review of irregularities in an academic department featuring classes with significant athlete enrollments. Neither Wainstein nor UNC spokeswoman Karen Moon immediately responded when asked whether Wainstein's is investigating Willingham's claims or treatment. North Carolina's law says state employees should "be free of intimidation or harassment when reporting to public bodies about matters of public concern ..." It also says employees can't be discharged, threatened or discriminated against for reporting problems, including gross mismanagement or gross abuse of authority and fraud. In a CNN story in January, Willingham said her research on 183 football or basketball players at UNC from 2004-12 found 60 percent reading at fourth- to eighth-grade levels and roughly 10 percent below a third-grade level. During a Faculty Council meeting, Provost James W. Dean Jr. said the findings were based largely on standardized scores in a 10-minute timed vocabulary test that isn't an appropriate way to measure literacy levels. Dean, the school's top academic officer, called it "flawed analysis" and said it was unfair to use the data to say students can't read. He said outside consultants will review their analysis of Willingham's data. That's a classic response to whistleblowers, Willingham said. But she said what's important is the students. "It's about the athletes who are not getting what we promised them. They're not getting a real education. ... And they leave without anything except some injuries and some concussions," she said. She said she hopes her situation results in a policy that protects whistleblowers and produces real leaders at the school. "We have amazing people who work at this university," she said. "We need leadership. We just don't have any." In an interview, Clark said he was hopeful when Folt said in January that academic oversight had failed for years, leading to no-show classes with significant athlete enrollment and unauthorized grade changes. But he's disappointed with the university's response to Willingham's research. "She doesn't need to embrace the cover-up, and she doesn't need to sit there while the provost essentially trashes Mary in front of the faculty," he said of Folt, who is in her first year as chancellor. In his letter, Clark takes issue with three parts of school officials' response to Willingham's analysis: comments made in response to the CNN story; the Jan. 17 faculty meeting; and Dean's public statements. UNC-CH initially denied Willingham's claim and called it unfair to student athletes, and said the university had not seen her data. The denial and attempts to discredit Willingham resulted in UNC-CH being perceived as a bully, Clark wrote. "This conduct has a chilling effect that will dissuade other potential witnesses from coming forward," he wrote. He also challenged Dean's comments in a Bloomberg Businessweek article where the provost said Willingham "said that our students can't read, our athletes can't read, and that's a lie." Dean conceded in the article that he had misspoken. In a later article, the reporter said Dean said he doesn't think Willingham is a liar. "It is simply unacceptable for a person in a position of such authority to make disparaging comments about an employee who has raised legitimate and important concerns about the education of student-athletes," Clark wrote. The school's whistleblower protection policy, which relies on state law, says school employees should be "free of intimidation or harassment" when they come forward. Considering the public comments from school officials, "it is difficult for me to see how these occurrences do not qualify as unlawful intimidation or harassment and violations of both the UNC-CH policy and state law," Clark writes. ___ Online: UNC Policy: http://policies.unc.edu/policies/protect-reporting/ NC State Policy: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_126/Article_14.html GAP Letter to Folt: http://www.whistleblower.org/storage/documents/LetterToFolt.pdf UNC's statement when Kenneth Wainstein was hired: http://uncnews.unc.edu/2014/02/21/independent-counsel-conduct-inquiry-information-academic-irregularities "

3/21/2014 7:03:32 PM

Witness intimidation

3/21/2014 7:21:46 PM

So this should be great, right?

http://www.hbo.com/real-sports-with-bryant-gumbel#/real-sports-with-bryant-gumbel/episodes/0/204-episode/video/204-higher-education.html/eNrjcmbO0CzLTEnNd8xLzKksyUx2zs8rSa0oYc5Xz89JgQkGJKan+iXmpjIXsjFyMjKyMbJJJ5aW5BfkJFbalhSVpgIAV3AXOA==

3/23/2014 10:36:30 AM

[Edited on March 23, 2014 at 10:47 AM. Reason : O]

3/23/2014 10:47:09 AM

^^that's awesome. i'm definitely gonna have to watch the whole episode.

3/23/2014 11:25:13 AM

I'm sure it will be framed in respect to bigger problems in college athletics (which there are) instead of the Carolina went far above and beyond everyone else in their cheating.

3/23/2014 11:58:40 AM

like the Memphis guy who learned to read with Dr. Suess books

3/23/2014 12:02:11 PM

http://www.news-record.com/blogs/sports_extra/article_12e3fabe-b376-11e3-88ba-0017a43b2370.html

3/24/2014 3:45:21 PM

Rouge hbo

3/24/2014 5:24:45 PM

photo_photo.aspx?user=16734&photo=532151&filter=

UNC fan on my Facebook just posted this picture was talking about how clean UNC is because of this list

3/24/2014 6:07:32 PM

Wait that pic was before UNC football infractions. How many was that???

3/24/2014 7:14:55 PM

THat pic is soo 2010

3/24/2014 8:27:50 PM

Dan Kane on OTL espn2 NOW!

3/25/2014 3:08:06 PM

This OTL is crazy.

3/25/2014 3:21:55 PM

The bring the NCAA back and do something this time chatter about UNC is getting A LOT louder...

3/25/2014 3:53:02 PM

Quote :

"This OTL is crazy."

What happin'?

3/25/2014 4:10:04 PM

Podcast: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=10672168

3/25/2014 4:52:55 PM

So in the OTL segment, they clearly showed a 'Final Paper' submission from AFAM 41 that got an A-. Here is the entire 'Final Paper':

Quote :

"" On the evening of December Rosa Parks decided that she was going to sit in the white people section on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. During this time blacks had to give up there seats to whites when more whites got on the bus. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. Her and the bus driver began to talk and the conversation went like this. "Let me have those front seats" said the driver. She didn't get up and told the driver that she was tired of giving her seat to white people. "I'm going to have you arrested," said the driver. "You may do that," Rosa Parks responded. (Obscured)... came in and Rosa Parks asked them " why do you all push ... (Obscured)... the officer replied and said "I don't know, but the law is the law and ...(Obscured).""

3/25/2014 7:53:10 PM

i thought this thread would be a lot busier right now

3/26/2014 10:24:25 AM

Just waiting on the UNC response aka shooting themselves in the foot

3/26/2014 10:26:23 AM

I hope that OTL segment was the most watched segment EVER. Holy shit. I mean. I knew all the details. But to hear it on this show is outFUCKINrageous how they have not been punished severely for this.

3/26/2014 10:41:23 AM

^ But don't you know that this is happening everywhere else just as bad or even worse, even though you never hear about it?

3/26/2014 10:45:45 AM

I am pessimistic on any major punishment will happen to UNC but it is satisfying to read their bad press.

3/26/2014 10:56:34 AM

I don't care where else it's happening. It's happening at unc-ch and I want the death penalty.

3/26/2014 10:56:39 AM

Just close your eyes and imagine if the exact same thing happened at NCSU.

3/26/2014 10:59:12 AM

UNC Response:

Quote :

"University response to HBO Real Sports segment The following is a statement from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Vice Chancellor for Communications and Public Affairs Joel Curran: “Tuesday night’s ‘HBO Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel’ segment covered information that has previously been reported and discussed. UNC-Chapel Hill announced nearly two years ago that there were irregular classes taught. Since then, we have conducted seven reviews, and an eighth is underway. In addition, we have instituted numerous reforms including new governance and accountability standards in our Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes; revamped department structures and reporting relationships to ensure checks and balances at every level; and new systems for classroom audits and course oversight. Those efforts were in addition to strengthening how the Office of Undergraduate Admissions assesses prospective student-athletes. Our goal is to create an academic success program that is one of the best, if not the leader, among peer universities. We are concerned when any student—athlete or otherwise—is disappointed in the experience he or she has at the University. UNC-Chapel Hill includes nearly 800 students who participate in athletics across 28 varsity teams, and the demands are significant. We are confident we offer our students an outstanding education. As a group, the 201 first-year student-athletes enrolled in 2013 earned a collective B through their first semester. In addition, 329 UNC varsity student-athletes made the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2012-2013 Academic Honor Roll with a 3.0 grade-point average or better for the school year – first among the ACC’s public institutions and third overall. Our focus is helping students become leaders not only in their respective sports, but also in the classroom and community. Our students are committed to achieving great success. We are equally committed to providing them the best experience academically, personally and competitively.” News Services Contact: Karen Moon, (919) 962-8593, Karen_Moon@unc.edu"

So...... they are still touting their athlete's grades/GPA? lololol At this point they must only be responding to their idiot fanbase as they are the only people still eating that line up.

SEE!!!! OUR PLAYERS MAKE GOOD GRADES, THEY DONT FLUNK OUT LIKE MOOU IN RAWLEEEEE

3/26/2014 11:05:26 AM

I hope I'm not related to Karen.

3/26/2014 11:12:32 AM

BURN IT TO THE GROUND!

3/26/2014 11:19:12 AM

Quote :

" "Let me have those front seats" said the driver."

hahahaha

3/26/2014 11:20:46 AM

"In addition, 329 UNC varsity student-athletes made the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2012-2013 Academic Honor Roll with a (Obscured) grade-point average or better for the school year – first among the ACC’s public institutions and third overall."

3/26/2014 11:30:17 AM

And at no point has this issue been about anything other than the athletes in revenue sports (hint hint, men's basketball and football). UNC touting the accomplishments of the women's gymnastics and the like is completely irrelevant. They are trying to control and change the narrative. Give us the fake classes and tell us who off the 2005/2009 team was in them during that 2005-2009 timeframe and received the easy A/B for it and this can all be over soon.....yea right.

3/26/2014 11:35:34 AM

Dear Media

Guys, we admitted 2 years ago that there were bogus classes. But check out how our womens soccer and lacrosse players this year have a B average.

Thank you

UNC

3/26/2014 11:45:36 AM

UNC needs to change their tunes. The same bullshit served to the local public/media as a reply will not cut it with folks nationally. You think Paul Barrett is gonna accept that weak sauce?

3/26/2014 11:47:30 AM

I love how State Fans Nation has their article titled "Boom goes the dynamite".

Nothing was, is, or is going to happen to UNC. They make the NCAA too much money and the NC government has even shown they'll help them cover up anything they can.

3/26/2014 12:32:37 PM

that PR guy's spin is the same shit we've heard the past two years: "we've fixed it"

that's all well and good, but that's what you're supposed to do.

at any rate, I don't care about that. I want to see the punishment for past transgressions. that happened, they got away with shit that gave them unfair advantages no one else got. tear the banners down.

3/26/2014 12:44:06 PM

Just listened to the OTL...that was fucking brutal.

That lady from UNC was a sacrificial lamb. The "insiders" on PackPride are saying this is just the beginning. I try not to get too excited...but I can't imagine how this was just the tip of the iceberg...unless more people are going to come out. That would be glorious.

3/26/2014 12:44:32 PM

http://paperclassinc.com/jay-smith-counters-uncs-response-hbo-real-sports-bryant-gumbel-segment/

Jay Smith responds to Joel Curran responding to Real Sports

3/26/2014 1:31:10 PM

^awesome

3/26/2014 1:58:54 PM

Quote :

"I'm getting the sense that Willingham might be a racist. Not in the KKK, burning cross way, but in the, "let's colonize Africa to teach these poor brutes about civilization" way. "

[Edited on March 26, 2014 at 2:33 PM. Reason : Should be in the IC thread]

3/26/2014 2:25:55 PM

Got a follow back from Mary Willingham. first 'celebrity' follower for me lol

and this was the win(from the Jay Smith response):

Quote :

"As for the reforms that have been implemented, some of them positive, critical thinkers long ago noted the paradox that UNC repeatedly claims to have fixed problems it never had."

[Edited on March 26, 2014 at 3:12 PM. Reason : ed]

3/26/2014 3:01:58 PM

3/26/2014 4:23:02 PM

That OTL piece was brutal. UNC is going to have a harder and harder time trying to weasel out of this. When guys flat out say they were steered by advisors into no-show classes in order to keep them eligible it is obvious that this was not an "academic" issue it was done strictly for eligibility reasons.

The NCAA's ability to ignore giant, obvious violations and patterns of misconduct while still managing to drop the hammer on people for fuck all like they've done with this poor guy is truly impressive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/sports/wrestler-hoping-to-inspire-through-song-loses-eligibility.html?_r=0

Selective enforcement is the norm, don't expect justice or even equitable enforcement of the rules until there is a national outcry and possible congressional action.

3/26/2014 5:05:46 PM

I'd love to see the ncaa go after them one more time but, they JUST won't DO IT.

3/26/2014 5:26:34 PM

hey somebody grab me a link for that Real Sports episode

3/26/2014 5:36:40 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrVdYbHI0x4

3/26/2014 5:46:44 PM

cool

3/26/2014 6:12:50 PM

They'll just leave the NCAA before the hammer drops

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/26/nlrb-ruling-gives-players-first-labor-union-win/

3/26/2014 6:37:43 PM

i would have taken a less turrible screenshot had i known one of y'all was posting it to reddit

3/26/2014 11:13:58 PM

too late to edit, but just read through that thread and found this gem. apparently dude quoted those lines from a made-for-tv movie entitled (you guessed it) Rosa Parks: My Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxXzKG9t4L8

3/27/2014 12:58:08 AM