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Article: academic fraud for athletes


regentrude
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I think a key point is that it was just "some" athletes.

 

We know someone who played football for UNC during that time period.  He was one of their top players and went on to a career in the NFL where he was a starting player for years, including on one Super Bowl winning team.  He said that while he was at UNC there was no cheating going on that he was aware of. He said it was common for professors to work with the athletes as far as giving them a little extra time on some assignments, but that was about it.  He's a very smart man who comes from a successful family that values education.  Other than the time involved in playing a demanding sport, he would have had no more problem with the academic work than any other high stats student.  My guess is that he was probably hanging around with other athletes who were also quite capable of handling the work, and that those student athletes probably really didn't have any idea what was going on. I trust this person to be telling the truth. Mainly from knowing the family, but also because he's one of those athletes who was very wise with the money he made while in the NFL.  He's quite wealthy and will never need to work another day in his life unless he chooses to.  So it's not like he has to make it seem like his degree was well earned and legitimate in order to get a job.

 

I'm not defending them -- that any students were being shuffled through is unacceptable, IMO.  But as Snowbeltmom said, I believe anyone who thinks the problem is limited to UNC is being naive.  It's a widespread problem and will continue to be so as long as huge revenue sports are part of the college experience.

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This is so sad.

 

I've long held up Jay Bilas* as an example of a smart athlete who used his college education to have a career after his pro career ended. 

 

*He graduated from Duke, not UNC, I realize, and UNC can't be the only school guilty of such practices. We could debate the advantages Bilas had as opposed to other athletes, but let's not.

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The NY Times said it wasn't just athletes who were enrolled in these "paper courses." In fact, more that half the people enrolled in these class (from from they have gathered) weren't athletes. This scandal is much more widespread than just an atheletic department problem. The whole thing is crazy, and happening in a lot of places.

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The NY Times said it wasn't just athletes who were enrolled in these "paper courses." In fact, more that half the people enrolled in these class (from from they have gathered) weren't athletes. This scandal is much more widespread than just an atheletic department problem. The whole thing is crazy, and happening in a lot of places.

 

And here I've had nothing but disdain for UNC since back in the early 80's because Dean Smith played stall ball, not basketball, prompting the shot clock to enter college basketball. 

 

Adding this to the list (again, knowing UNC is not the only school guilty of this practice). 

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I'd like to see harsh punishment of some sort come down to encourage all others schools to clean up their act if need be.

 

I recall my junior level Statistics for the Social Sciences class back when I was at VT.  I got to skip the class with the prof's permission - only showing up for class the day before the test (to be sure nothing had changed) and the day of the test to take it.  My first clue that I might not need the instruction was a day when the prof was going over averages.  She put a series of numbers on the board, added them up, divided, and got -2.  One of the basketball players in the class raised his hand and asked if the average was always -2, or, if you changed one of those numbers, would the average change?

 

These classes were open to all - had real tests, etc - but the material was stuff we covered in high school - or maybe middle school.  It was a 300 level class (and required for my Psych major or I'd have skipped it entirely).

 

But this latest stuff?  No classes?  No profs?  Just an essay with questions about who actually wrote it?  That's a whole new bottom level IMO.

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I know someone who went to Kent State (not exactly known nationally for athletics) and was having problems with her class schedule. A "special" section fit into her schedule, so she went to the registrar to see about enrolling. The secretary said, "Mmm, you don't want to sign up for that section." "Why not? Is it honors?" "Nooo....not honors. It's reserved for members of the football team." "Oh, so, what? The class doesn't meet on game days?" "Uhhh....yeah, something like that. Just don't sign up."

 

Yeah, no, the real reason was that the prof of that "special" section was under orders not to let any of the athletes fall below the GPA cutoff. So the class was dumb down, exceptionally dumbed down, to allow them all to get passing grades.

 

I'm not sure how often that happens, but probably quite a bit. I wonder what happens with the actually smart athletes who don't want to take the easy-peasy section?

 

On the news this morning they said the problem at UNC stemmed from a single department. But I wouldn't be surprised if some students were "encouraged" to major with that department so that they would have a good GPA.

 

Of course, I was watching the news with my Dutch DH who asked "tell me again, how is it that people here get sports scholarships to attend school???" It's America, honey, don't ask questions like that. lol.

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I'd like to see harsh punishment of some sort come down to encourage all others schools to clean up their act if need be.

 

 

I'm as revolted as anyone, but I'm curious what kind of punishment would be appropriate.  Seems like the people most responsible have all retired, and they will face minimum punishment.  Vacating a 10 year old championship seems toothless. UNC threw the poor whistle blower under the bus, seems like they owe her huge compensation.  Assuming the cheating is all in the past, banning the football or basketball teams from playing for a season seems to punish the innocent.  If athletes and non athletes were systematically getting credits and degrees for work they did not do, seem like UNC needs to have their accreditation organization re-audit the university. 

 

I think the University should be ordered to offer every single one of the athletes who was encouraged to take the fake classes a real, four-year scholarship, with no athletic strings attached.

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On the news this morning they said the problem at UNC stemmed from a single department. But I wouldn't be surprised if some students were "encouraged" to major with that department so that they would have a good GPA.

 

They were. The article specifically mentions one:

 

 

former football player Michael McAdoo told CNN he was forced into majoring in African-American studies, the department at the heart of the paper-classes scandal
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They were. The article specifically mentions one:

 

Oh, yes, there's that.

 

This just came up in my FB: http://chronicle.com/article/Widespread-Nature-of-Chapel/149603/

 

It seems that the academic counselors for the sports teams were heavily involved. 

 

Yet I'm puzzled by the numbers that less than half of the students involved were athletes. Apparently regular counselors also sent failing students that way? At least Kent State was unfair enough to keep regular students out of the jock classes. smh.

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Shameful.  Unfortunately they're not even the only ones.  It's not a secret that other colleges pressure teachers to go easy on athletes to keep them on the team.  Things like this make me wish sports were separate from the colleges. 

I don't want to see sports separate from college, but I think the DIV III and the Ivy League both have a model that should be followed.  There are no athletic scholarships offered at these schools.  The athletes are students first and must meet the academic standards of the school in order to be admitted.  The NCAA (for Div III) with its stupid farce of an "eligibility center" is not involved at all.

 

If the NBA and NFL had minor league systems like Major League Baseball, those football and basketball players seeking to turn pro could be drafted out of high school directly into the minor league systems.  With minor league systems in place, no one would have to pretend anymore that these players are attending college for "the education." 

 

However, there is too much money in college basketball and football for this to ever come to fruition. Plus, if there were minor leagues, the NBA and NFL would be required to pay the players for the 60 plus hours a week that they put into their sport and provide disability coverage if a player was injured "on the job", something that doesn't happen now because the colleges and the corrupt NCAA can exploit these players by claiming these players are "students."  

 

 

 

 

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I'm as revolted as anyone, but I'm curious what kind of punishment would be appropriate.  Seems like the people most responsible have all retired, and they will face minimum punishment.  Vacating a 10 year old championship seems toothless. UNC threw the poor whistle blower under the bus, seems like they owe her huge compensation.  Assuming the cheating is all in the past, banning the football or basketball teams from playing for a season seems to punish the innocent.  If athletes and non athletes were systematically getting credits and degrees for work they did not do, seem like UNC needs to have their accreditation organization re-audit the university. 

 

I think the University should be ordered to offer every single one of the athletes who was encouraged to take the fake classes a real, four-year scholarship, with no athletic strings attached.

 

Actual punishment would require some thought.  I think compensation for the whistle blower, a real degree opportunity for the students, and loss of future sports scholarship $$ for some years could easily be appropriate - along with allowing anyone currently there who wants to transfer out and still play that option.  I would not actually ban any current teams from playing - just hobble their future via scholarships.

 

Some punishment is needed IMO or other schools could easily see that it isn't that big of a deal if they get caught.

 

It's too bad they can't punish the actual people involved much, but I sort of doubt similar things aren't still happening in various places.

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I don't want to see sports separate from college, but I think the DIV III and the Ivy League both have a model that should be followed.  There are no athletic scholarships offered at these schools.  The athletes are students first and must meet the academic standards of the school in order to be admitted.  The NCAA (for Div III) with its stupid farce of an "eligibility center" is not involved at all.

 

If the NBA and NFL had minor league systems like Major League Baseball, those football and basketball players seeking to turn pro could be drafted out of high school directly into the minor league systems.  With minor league systems in place, no one would have to pretend anymore that these players are attending college for "the education." 

 

However, there is too much money in college basketball and football for this to ever come to fruition. Plus, if there were minor leagues, the NBA and NFL would be required to pay the players for the 60 plus hours a week that they put into their sport and provide disability coverage if a player was injured "on the job", something that doesn't happen now because the colleges and the corrupt NCAA can exploit these players by claiming these players are "students."  

I agree on pretty much all of this.

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I don't want to see sports separate from college, but I think the DIV III and the Ivy League both have a model that should be followed.  There are no athletic scholarships offered at these schools.  The athletes are students first and must meet the academic standards of the school in order to be admitted.  The NCAA (for Div III) with its stupid farce of an "eligibility center" is not involved at all.

 

Division III gives plenty of athletic scholarships.  Sure they call them academic.  But I've known several not-too-bright athletes who have received "academic" scholarships to Division III schools.

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I don't want to see sports separate from college, but I think the DIV III and the Ivy League both have a model that should be followed.  There are no athletic scholarships offered at these schools.  The athletes are students first and must meet the academic standards of the school in order to be admitted.  The NCAA (for Div III) with its stupid farce of an "eligibility center" is not involved at all.

 

If the NBA and NFL had minor league systems like Major League Baseball, those football and basketball players seeking to turn pro could be drafted out of high school directly into the minor league systems.  With minor league systems in place, no one would have to pretend anymore that these players are attending college for "the education." 

 

However, there is too much money in college basketball and football for this to ever come to fruition. Plus, if there were minor leagues, the NBA and NFL would be required to pay the players for the 60 plus hours a week that they put into their sport and provide disability coverage if a player was injured "on the job", something that doesn't happen now because the colleges and the corrupt NCAA can exploit these players by claiming these players are "students."  

 

I'd like to see this.  My oldest ds is a gifted athlete but not gifted academically.  He works very hard but only manages a high C/low B average.  He'd probably earn a college scholarship for his athletic ability but wouldn't be able to handle a D-I school academically.  Luckily, he's into baseball so he has some options.  Kids who are gifted athletes need an outlet for their abilities too!  It shouldn't have to be tied to schooling.

 

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I'd like to see this.  My oldest ds is a gifted athlete but not gifted academically.  He works very hard but only manages a high C/low B average.  He'd probably earn a college scholarship for his athletic ability but wouldn't be able to handle a D-I school academically.  Luckily, he's into baseball so he has some options.  Kids who are gifted athletes need an outlet for their abilities too!  It shouldn't have to be tied to schooling.

 

 

YES YES YES.

 

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Kids who are gifted athletes need an outlet for their abilities too! It shouldn't have to be tied to schooling.

 

The only dedicated system that I know of in the UK is for football players: the teams have 'academies' attached to the clubs where young players are trained up. I'm not an expert though - my sons are not sporty.

 

Money from the national lottery is awarded to various sports to provide grants to develop individuals' talents, particularly for Olympic sports - I don't know how this works.

 

In other sports, people will often go to a university that specialises in sport in order to study to be a PE teacher or a physio, while pursuing their sport. These universities are not necessarily easy to get into: for sports technology here you need to get good marks in three A levels (like APs but with no multi-choice). This university is not as selective, but it still expects three A levels, just probably not with such high grades.

 

University sport is not a business in itself here and I don't know of any recruiting for sport at an undergraduate level. There is, however, one fixture where overseas postgraduate applicants with impressive sporting background seem to make up a large proportion of the teams, and that is the Oxford/Cambridge boat race. The universities get extra fees by taking foreign students and can pick excellent oarsmen; the students get a place at a very good university and the chance to row in an iconic competition. I haven't heard of any scandals related to under-qualified students being let in for this purpose, but it may well have happened. It's a very small group though, so I can't see there being special classes.

 

For comparison, one can apply to join one of the Oxford choirs in advance of making an academic application. If picked for the choir of a particular college, one still has to meet academic standards for entrance and thereafter for studies.

 

I forgot to mention that a lot of training happens in local sports clubs. I know someone who is the national under-19 champion in a particular sport and has trained with his local athletics club. Much of the coaching is by volunteers - a friend of mine coaches there one night a week.

 

L

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I recall that the topic came up in this board last year when Mary Willingham spoke out about the low reading levels of college athletes.

Here's a new report:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/us/unc-report-academic-fraud/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 

A boy from my high school actually suffered from this: he wasn't able to even get into college at all due to low SATs. They'd been passing him through. The school failed him. He never played college athletics outside of community college. :(

 

It's disgusting behavior, and tragic that this is happening to these young people.

 

I agree that there should be options that do not tie athletics to schooling, but one problem is that boys actually don't mature physically enough by the end of high school to play against full-grown men in highly physical sports. Even if they've finished growing upwards, which many of them haven't, especially not the big boys who will be potential pros, they certainly don't have the bone density and all the strength they need to play with full-grown men. Some boys can do it, but not all of them. College--not that I agree with the present system, mind you--is a good place for boys to continue growing and playing sport before they get to the pro level.

 

I won't talk about girls because it's a totally different system--there just isn't the money in girls' sports, fortunately or unfortunately. :|

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If vacating championships for past years is not meaningful, how about officially revoking the awards presented to the adult educators and administrators who perpetrated this or knew it was happening and did nothing?

 

Just as an example, one of the emails in the NYTimes article is from an academic counselor, who was in correspondence with an instructor over a paper that didn't meet assignment requirements, was not college level and seemed to be "a recycled paper."  (I took the last comment to suggest that the paper looked like it might have been copied from somewhere, ie, plagiarized."  The academic counselor in question is currently director of the university's Center for Ethics and received a distinguished scholar award.

 

How about a letter of apology to the alumni who earned their degrees by actually doing the work and to the parents who paid for those degrees.  After all, money collected from those other paying families that supported athlete scholarships. 

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How about a letter of apology to the alumni who earned their degrees by actually doing the work and to the parents who paid for those degrees. 

 

Color me skeptical, but I bet there's a whole bunch of coaches, and even alumni, who would be happy to break these kinds of rules, as long as the only penalty is writing a letter of apology.

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Color me skeptical, but I bet there's a whole bunch of coaches, and even alumni, who would be happy to break these kinds of rules, as long as the only penalty is writing a letter of apology.

Probably true. How about adding stocks and giant billboards with their face and "I sold my honor for the sake of a ball game" labels.

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Many athletes from all over the world come to US universities to train. It is not just football and basketball that need "minor" league training opportunities.

 

 

Yes indeed - the opportunity is there, so people are glad to use it.  

 

I suppose I was just musing on the strangeness (to me) of universities having a dual life in the US as academic institutions and training grounds for not-very-academic trainee professional sports people, and wondering if there could be other ways of training for sports.

 

L

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I suppose I was just musing on the strangeness (to me) of universities having a dual life in the US as academic institutions and training grounds for not-very-academic trainee professional sports people, and wondering if there could be other ways of training for sports.

 

L

 

If one subscribes to the Multiple Intelligences view (and I'll admit I do), then being talented in sports is akin to being talented in math or music - just in a different direction.

 

Our public schools offer typical academic offerings and things like sports/theater/music, etc.  So do our colleges.  It's all a matter of finding fit to find a niche for the individual.  We're not all created the same.

 

HOWEVER, if one says ALL graduates of X need to have a certain level of "across the board" educational experience (via credits), then it should apply to all IMO.  It happens in high school where every individual needs a certain amount of PE credits as well as math credits (albeit, more math than PE).

 

If a college were to want to allow students to specialize in sports and not need other courses, they ought to be up front about it and not hide it.  Then, of course, they'd need to deal with (change) the NCAA.

 

But not all students who play in college will get a job with the pros.  It's good if athletes have a decent backup plan via other courses IMO.  It may still be in the sports field (PE teacher or whatever), but there are often other courses needed for those.

 

Merit scholarships are intended for high academic students.

Sports scholarships are intended for high sports students.

Music scholarships are intended for high music students.

 

Then there's need based aid that applies totally differently.

 

I don't really have a problem with scholarships to fit the students.  Many have made their way in life with sports and many enjoy watching them.  It's an entertainment option just as theater or orchestras are.  I just have a problem with fake courses to pretend students also have high academics otherwise.

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If a college were to want to allow students to specialize in sports and not need other courses, they ought to be up front about it and not hide it.  Then, of course, they'd need to deal with (change) the NCAA.

 

 

Yes, if there was a college-within-the-college that specialised in sports and offered life-skills/trade classes to those who weren't prepared for standard university courses, then that would be honest and would support them to pursue sports or other careers.  

 

 

I agree that there should be options that do not tie athletics to schooling, but one problem is that boys actually don't mature physically enough by the end of high school to play against full-grown men in highly physical sports. Even if they've finished growing upwards, which many of them haven't, especially not the big boys who will be potential pros, they certainly don't have the bone density and all the strength they need to play with full-grown men. Some boys can do it, but not all of them. College--not that I agree with the present system, mind you--is a good place for boys to continue growing and playing sport before they get to the pro level.

 

 

That's an interesting point.  I have a cousin who played rugby professionally - I'll ask him how the non-academic training/maturing to full strength would work in the UK.

 

L

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Okay - my cousin (former professional rugby player) got back to me:

 

A big distinction between uk and us university sport is money.  There are no money making sports for universities on the uk. [my university's] hockey club was the largest university sports club in uk and one of the most successful clubs in any sport nationally. Whilst there, I secured their largest ever sponsorship deal: 13 grand! It costs students money to play university sport. There are scholarships available for exceptional athletes - these would tend to be handed out in conjunction with national funding for Olympic sports to enable athletes to live without a job.

The majority of pro sport people in uk did not go to university. Most come up through grass roots clubs and earn selection in regional and national age grade academies or bigger, better clubs.

Although the period 18-22 is important for developing pro rugby players,many players are on pro contracts or playing elite amateur by their late teens. That means it's essential to introduce strength training earlier e.g. Age 14-16 to develop good technique, mobility and base strength to support a more intense regime later on without injury. Other concepts like nutrition, gym etiquette, discipline can also be introduced.

Plans should be tailored to every individual and this is particular important in adolescents/teens.

This teen period is also essential in developing core skils and progressing to tactical awareness to enable players to make the step to adult rugby.

The name of the game is progression and the earlier you start the more you can progress.

 

L

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Yes, if there was a college-within-the-college that specialised in sports and offered life-skills/trade classes to those who weren't prepared for standard university courses, then that would be honest and would support them to pursue sports or other careers. 

 

I think the Minor Leagues would serve the players much better than the "college-within-the college" model.  However, I don't see that happening because there is way too much money involved.  The current system permits colleges to make millions off of cheap labor that is expendable as soon as that cheap labor gets injured on the job.  If one researches the history of the NCAA, one would discover that the term "student athlete" was coined to protect the colleges from having to compensate athletes a fair wage and to pay for damages when a player is injured on the job.

 

This is from an article on ESPN:

"Delve into the details behind the money that moves college sports. Find out how much athletic departments make from ticket sales, playing in away games, donations, media rights and other sources compared to what they spend on recruiting, tuition, travel, coaches' pay and more. Note: The money categories are just highlights from athletic departments' financials, so they won't add up to the totals at the end. Where a school or other source did not provide information, the field is blank."
 

 

 

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I've thought of some penalties: 

 

Vacate all titles won during that period of time (football and basketball, both sports were involved; perhaps there were others, too)

If any of the involved coaches, staff, professors or advisors are still there, they should be released

Suspend Bowl/Playoff Eligibility for 4 years so that they can focus on getting their program straightened out, retooling their culture (current athletic students could transfer to other universities immediately and without penalty)

Offer for-credit courses to the students affected at no cost

 

Additionally, I think they should settle the whistleblower lawsuit by giving her everything she wants plus some more. She should not have to sign a non-disclosure agreement.  If she is unemployed, they should foot the bill for an independent headhunter/recruiter of her choice to work with her. Alternatively, if she desires, she should be reinstated at UNC in a different department. 

Evaluate the African-American Studies Department for future viability, access current dept culture to ensure a focus on education, dismiss any faculy & staff tied up in scandal. 

 

I also thinks that SACSCOC should swoop in there and do a full audit of the university. 

 

 

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This was in the news last year as the UNC dept in question started being investigated.

http://beta.sportingnews.com/article/4496143-north-carolina-championship-rings-acc-coastal-larry-fedora-unc

 

I lived in Dallas when SMU received sanctions for booster activity in the 80's. their football team didn't play for a year. Homecoming had a soccer game as the key sporting event. And I think that the violations were much less serious than fake classes that were widely known to exist.

 

Will it hurt students who were not involved. Yes. But what consequence that holds any real meaning wouldn't?

 

I would also completely dissolve the department in question. If there is a determination that the subject warrants its own department then create a new one with new staff and outside oversight for a period.

 

Investigate other departments in which athletes cluster. I would be surprised if this were the only place at the school where this is going on.

 

I can't impose this sort of thing on UNC. The only thing I can do is steer my own kids to other schools where sports don't dominate as much and to put what pressure I can on my own alma mater not to be like this.

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