Before and After: How UNC faculty leader dodged the NCAA

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Does the NCAA care?  Does the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools care? Does anyone care?

Is it an academic issue? Is it an athletics issue?  Is it both?

Ask most folks who wear baby blue and they’ll tell you it’s not an issue at all.  Except, that is, if it’s affecting recruiting.

But at least one person in Chapel Hill was well aware of the issues involved, and what the implications might be.  Thus she “requested” changes in the wording of a report which outlined (at least a few of) the improprieties going on over at “The Hill” (N&O)

Newly released correspondence shows the faculty leader at UNC-Chapel Hill watered down a report into academic fraud to lessen the chances the NCAA would come back to campus.

The correspondence shows that hours before the report’s release on July 26, 2012, Faculty Council Chairman Jan Boxill sent the three faculty authors a last-minute email. It suggested they rewrite a sentence that painted a picture of a department manager creating bogus classes to protect athletes’ eligibility to play sports.

The authors grudgingly agreed to it, and some key information disappeared from the final version.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/20/3044746/unc-faculty-leader-pushed-rewrite.html#storylink=cpy

Now, it’s unclear whether Boxill acted alone or whether there was/were request(s) from higher up.  She claims that the “request came from other faculty”.  But frankly, does that really even matter?  Most folks that don’t wear baby blue, and even some that do, don’t seem to think so.

As the elected faculty leader, Boxill is one of UNC’s top academic officials. Rewriting a sentence that carried the suggestion of an athletic motive behind the scandal should not be the mission of a faculty, said the author of a book on college athletic scandals.

“The faculty committee should not anticipate the audience or implications, but rather fulfill the charge they undertook,” said John Thelin, an education professor at the University of Kentucky and author of “Games Colleges Play.”

Jay Smith, a UNC history professor who has been among the most vocal critics of the university’s handling of the scandal, said Boxill’s email confirmed his fears that UNC had not investigated vigorously.

“It seems consistent with what I have taken to be the university’s strategy all along, which is they wanted to come up with findings that seemed frank and candid, but which also carefully exclude any further NCAA investigation,” Smith said.

Is it any wonder why allowing them to self-investigate is no longer trusted by anyone outside of their tight knit circle?  Also, I wonder if history professor Jay Smith has hired a food taster yet?  Word of advice Professor Smith….look under your car before you start it.

FWIW, the major change in the report seems to center upon the deletion of a mention of Deborah Crowder, who is named as an “athletics supporter” in the initial version, and is mentioned as having “used the system” to benefit athletes…..

BEFORE:

“Although we may never know for certain, it was our impression from multiple interviews that the involvement of Deborah Crowder seems to have been that of an athletics supporter who was extremely close to personnel in Athletics, and who managed to use the system to help players by directing them to enroll in courses in the African and Afro-American Studies department that turned out to be aberrant or irregularly taught.”

AFTER:

“Although we may never know for certain, it was our impression from multiple interviews that a department staff member managed to use the system to help players by directing them to enroll in courses in the African and Afro-American Studies Department that turned out to be aberrant or irregularly taught.”

A subtle change?  Perhaps.  But it does seem interesting that Boxill (or someone, at least) appears to have wanted Crowder’s name, as well as a reference to her being an “athletic supporter”, omitted from the report.

You might recall that Deborah Crowder is one of the scapegoats….errrr rogues….named thus far in what can only be termed an isolated instance (sarcasm).  You can refresh your memory here of Crowder and her relationship to the AFAM situation.

And regardless of whether the change in this report was in fact minor (debatable), the fact that someone in a position of authority was interested in changing the report IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER to minimize the chances of a return visit from the NCAA is the key point here.  Don’t you think?

What a cesspool the flagship has become.

But at least they aren’t selling sneakers or comp tickets.  Because then they’d REALLY be in trouble.

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About Wufpacker

A 2nd generation alumnus and raised since birth to be irrationally dedicated to all things NC State. Class of '88 and '92.

UNC Scandal

51 Responses to Before and After: How UNC faculty leader dodged the NCAA

  1. Pack78 07/21/2013 at 9:17 AM #

    Boxill admits in the email that keeping the NCAA away is her objective:

    “The worry is that this could further raise NCAA issues and that is not the intention,” she said in the email.

    This comes to light after much foot-dragging by UNC-Cesspool to release info. For the academicians on our site, Boxill has been there 28 YEARS w/o being tenured? Who needs tenure when academic excellence is NOT on your list of priorities?

  2. GeneralNuisance 07/21/2013 at 9:25 AM #

    At this point nothing suprises me … but I did find it amusing that Boxill was an academic counsler to athletes and has served as a broadcaster of womens basketball games. Even more amusing is that she is a lecturer in the philosophy department and her “expertise” includes ETHICS IN SPORTS (which is actually a subject of one of her classes) ….but don’t worry, it’s only an academic issue, no athletics invovled so no need for the NCAA to become invovled. NOTHING TO SEE HERE….KEEP MOVING.

  3. Paramarine 07/21/2013 at 10:53 AM #

    I suspect that removing Crowder’s name also removes the threat of a libel suit.

    Removing the threat of a suit also removes the greater threat of the discovery process.

  4. old13 07/21/2013 at 10:57 AM #

    It is unclear as to whether Boxill taught for or against “Ethics in Sports!” Judging from her actions, I have to assume the latter!

  5. JohnGalt78 07/21/2013 at 11:01 AM #

    The best thing that has come out of this is the absolute joke the term “The Carolina Way” has become. Originally created to imply a better, higher, superior way of doing everything far beyond the abilities of any other university, the phrase is now used to ridicule those arrogant pricks. They don’t use that term anymore for fear of that ridicule. It was a myth anyway. Now it’s a joke….and a damn good joke that forever will never grow old. I love it!

  6. GeneralNuisance 07/21/2013 at 11:41 AM #

    ^good point …I find myself referencing the “Carowhina way” to all my light blue friends now. I love to watch them quickly change the subject. Used to, I would get lecture on the finer points of all things *NC

  7. Pack78 07/21/2013 at 11:46 AM #

    ^With the recent info on rental vehicles for athletes, it should be the CAR-olina Way…

  8. MrPlywood 07/21/2013 at 1:22 PM #

    “Boxill, 74, began teaching at UNC in 1985, but she has also been involved nearly as long in advising athletes. A former women’s basketball coach at the University of Tampa, Boxill became an academic counselor to UNC athletes in 1988 and has served as a broadcaster of the university’s women’s basketball games.”

    No conflict of interest there.

  9. Greywolf 07/21/2013 at 2:16 PM #

    “Why is it a good thing to remove Deborah Crowder’s name from the report?” asked Maffly-Kipp, then the chairman of the religious studies department. “The fact is, she was close to people in athletics.”

    Excuse me Ms. Maffly-Kipp but as chairman of the religious studies department shouldn’t that be Warren Martin KNEW Deborah Crowder. That was the biblical way of intimate relations.

  10. Virginia Wolf 07/21/2013 at 5:12 PM #

    Anyone used one of those “D. Crowder Athletic Supporters?” Mine is a Hanes brand. I need to check out that one.

  11. BJD95 07/21/2013 at 7:21 PM #

    The only “rogue” on the hill is Jay Smith. Nobody else apparently gives a damn, at least after the chief corruption drivers/enablers push back.

    Disgusting.

  12. Alpha Wolf 07/21/2013 at 7:45 PM #

    Meanwhile, crickets from the state legislature, which apparently has no problem spending taxpayer money on this boondoggle of a university.

  13. john of sparta 07/21/2013 at 8:38 PM #

    Heels on Wheels.
    calling it.

  14. blpack 07/21/2013 at 9:12 PM #

    They will stop at nothing at cover up the truth and protect athletics. Ethics out the window. They’ve lied for so long, it is their truth. Ridiculous.

  15. graywolf 07/21/2013 at 9:55 PM #

    ^ You just defined the Carolina Way.

  16. JohnGalt78 07/21/2013 at 10:16 PM #

    Wonder why the Boxill’s named their son Jan? Kinda cruel, don’t ya think?

  17. Alpha Wolf 07/21/2013 at 11:51 PM #

    I’m loving how UNC fans are saying “the N&O is out to get us” and “Dan Kane has an axe to grind.”

    In the comments to the article, some guy put it perfectly:

    The N & O planted the weed and gun on PJ I’m sure
    The N & O got a convicted felon to rent cars for their players
    The N & O got the cops to pull over P.J. and give him a speeding ticket in Fats’ car.
    The N & O fabricated the Julius Peppers transcript.
    The N & O hired agents to give UNC athletes money.
    The N & O hired agents to fly UNC fball players to Miami, Las Vegas, and DC.
    The N & O hired an agent to be asst head football coach.
    The N & O told McDonald to accept cell phones and mouth guards.
    The N & O told McAdoo to plagiarize his paper.
    The N & O told Greg Little to get 4 cars & 9 license plates.
    The N & O hired Tami Hansbrough to a cushy no show job.
    The N & O got Tami to go to see her boys play at Notre Dame and everywhere else.
    The N & O told Nyangaro to hold bogus courses.
    The N & O hired Jenn Wiley to help the players cheat.
    The N & O hired Wayne Walden to rig the academics of the basketball team.
    The N & O told Marvin Austin to tweet about it.

    Yup, the good ole N&O managed to create all of those events in an effort to bring down “The Flagship.” They sure are busy over there on McDowell Street. You have to hand it to Dan Kane…he’s a real puppetmaster.

  18. PackFanInLA 07/22/2013 at 12:47 AM #

    This would be perfect for a juicy book on academic scandal. Can someone please write it???

    Someone out there (maybe retired) has to have the time.

    PLEASE!!!

  19. Greywolf 07/22/2013 at 5:52 AM #

    ^
    First there us the research, then the writing. Research takes longer when the usual sources are uncooperative. There are plenty of suckers over there. What Dan needs is a “deep throat.” My guess is that offered enough money Deborah would start to squeal like a stuck pig.

  20. buclark 07/22/2013 at 7:21 AM #

    Question: Why has ESPN failed to cover this story??

    Answer: John Skipper, President is a UNC grad. Check it out

  21. wolfonthehill 07/22/2013 at 10:07 AM #
  22. JohnGalt78 07/22/2013 at 10:16 AM #

    ^ Shocking…..not

  23. GeneralNuisance 07/22/2013 at 10:17 AM #

    ^yeah just saw that … I’m sure PJ learned his lesson

  24. wolffpride 07/22/2013 at 10:57 AM #

    Charges have been dismissed, no longer a legal issue. Move along, nothing to see here. PJbebackforKentucky.

    Will the car thing ever turn into a punished violation? Will the NCAA ever administer justice? We know the answer. Hope is lost yet again. F Andy Dufrain, hope is a bad thing, maybe the worst of things. I hate you hope.

  25. TheCOWDOG 07/22/2013 at 11:43 AM #

    So what? Big deal. Apparently, ya never had weed charges dismissed.

    Uh…I also believe he does have a DL. He was not charged with revoked.

    This is 1st grade stuff. It’s never been about the arrest…just the collaterals around it.

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