<p>I don’t really understand the uproar this situation and others like it, cause. Who, exactly, is being “defrauded” by the academic “fraud?” The players are not indentured servants; they don’t have to play, they don’t have to go to UNC, they don’t have to cheat. They are adults making those decisions of their own free will. </p>
<p>So long as it is made public that athletes often take few courses at UNC, it is self-policing. Universities can set their own requirements for graduation, and as long as it doesn’t affect their accreditation or violate NCAA rules, why should anyone care? Employers who might care whether a particular UNC graduate actually took classes and want to know what they were, can ask to see a transcript.</p>
<p>First of all, there have been no official investigations, only internal review after interval review all paid by UNC. I guess you get what you pay for. There has been no official outside funded investigation as of this point, and the NCAA will not touch it because they already know what they will find. These so-called internal “investigations” focusing on a limited scope and time period have already turned up hundreds of fake or questionable classes as well as hundreds of suspicious great changes. These are not just easy or athlete classes we are talking about that do occur at each major college involved with revenue sports. When a whistleblower does turn up at the University, she is thrown under the bus quickly. Question for you: how come Carolina hires learning and reading specialists anyways?</p>
<p>Secondly, McCants is not the only student athlete to come forward. There have already been three football players so far who all tell a similar story. Also, the transcripts for McCants as verified by ESPN as well as Julius peppers have already backed these atheletes’ claims. And yes, this does hurt these young athletes who have aspirations to make big-time sports but don’t. It also hurts the students who are not admitted instead of an unprepared athlete for money purposes. It also is unfair to the universities trying to participate in athletics on a more even ground. There have been many universities during this time period that have suffered the consequences of poor APR performance while UNC boasts it’s near perfect APR. This is now evidenced by the significant drop in UNC’s APR over the past two years. </p>
<p>UNC has constantly held itself up as a Public Ivey (The Carolina Way). UNC has consistently hid behind FERPA even when FOIs have been requested with redacted student information. It is interesting when the judge of the case that denied the release was not only a UNC grad but also a proud member of the UNC Ram’s fan club as evidenced on his Facebook posts. UNC has been able to control the local message since a vast number of UNC grads populate the journalism, legal, and political fields in Carolina. </p>
<p>Finally, this does not begin to address the other significant issues that have already been revealed such as the free cars, thousands of “paid” parking tickets, etc as well as sports agents (one who taught a class and was an ass. Coach) and drug runners involved with the teams. Much of this occurred at taxpayers expense. This is high-level corruption that goes to the root of the University, all to protect its banners and to make more money. It is insane that this corruption skates by while other universities consistently get hit with violations for things such as free shoes and tattoos.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You can not possibly be saying Governor Martin was covering up something in his investigation. That would make you sound like a conspiracy obsessed NC State fan. the current and final investigation was authorized by the BOG of the entire UNC system. I will accept their conclusions what ever they are , will you and the other Pack Pride fans or will you only be happy if the results follow your preconceived narrative?</p></li>
<li><p>The classes in question were not fake. They should have been taught as a lecture class not as an independent study class that required a 25 page paper. That they were not taught as a lecture class was an issue it has been addressed and was an academic issue not an athletic one. It is odd no one is concerned about easy classes taught in midieval French history but are very concerned about easy AfAm classes. Racist much?</p></li>
<li><p>There were not hundreds of changed grades. See the Martin report for details. Unless of course you think a highly regarded former Governor is in on the conspiracy.</p></li>
<li><p>The why does UNC hire learning specialist question might be the single most ignorant statement I have read in a message board. Every University should absolutely accept kids with Learning Disabilities and should provide them the necessary assistance for them be successful. Try and google successful people with ADD or Dyslexia and that should answer your question. </p></li>
<li><p>To be a whistleblower you have to bring forth new factual information. The few things Willingham has said that are true will all repeated things from those internal investigations you maligned</p></li>
<li><p>The other students include football players who were thrown out of school for cheating. You do not think they have an agenda? Not exactly credible witnesses. </p></li>
<li><p>The drop in APR was directly related to the change in staff at football. New coaches at all schools always cause transfers. The APR for just the current year was higher than the moving average. It will continue to trend higher. </p></li>
<li><p>Special admits in sports , theater and music have a positive impact in the whole university. Having admissions standards that encompasses more than just traditional educational standards is not depriving more “qualified” students from gaining admissions. </p></li>
<li><p>UNC does not hide behind FERPA or HIPPA. These are federal laws that exist to protect the privacy of individuals. The idea that a major University would jeopardize research dollars (hundreds of millions) to protect athletic dollars (tens of million) is absurd. </p></li>
<li><p>Take off the tinfoil hat even John Drescher at the N&O wrote in an editorial that the judge was not biased. NC State does not lose to UNC in almost every sport because of massive conspiracies UNC has a very good law school so almost judge in the district was a grad. </p></li>
<li><p>The finally paragraph is right out of the Pack Pride fan site and really not appropriate for this site at all so I will just ignore that as the a rival fans ramblings Sincerely, Mr. Poetgrl</p></li>
</ol>
<p>re poetgrl 1:47pm - “The attorneys in the obannon case intended to use the tutor involved in the unc case, who illegally obtained and illegally divulged private student information as a part of their case. They were unable to do so because of this illegality. A federal judge has ruled on this.”</p>
<p>The judge said the News and Observer could not have access to a spread sheet they believe linked athletes to independent study classes because it would have identified one to four athletes. This is the ruling I referred to. This is separate from the Obannon case where the attorneys removed her as an entirely discredited witness who could not withstand any cross You can find this info by googling it on the N&O. </p>
<p>My point is that it is highly suspect that these individuals continue to violate the federal privacy rights, or attempt to violate these rights, for their own enrichment and career advancement, and not those of the students. </p>
<p>OK - Google it is. That is NC state superior court judge (and UNC Ram’s Club big donor) Bryan Collins ruling on an N&O freedom of information act request for data from UNC. It has nothing to do with O’Bannon v NCAA, Collins is not a Federal Judge, and it says nothing about Willingham’s credibility or whether information was illegally obtained or divulged. </p>
<p>Reasonable people can disagree on this, sorghum. But you are not going to sell me on the idea that a major in voice is more valuable than a major in football. I value both, and I’m overly educated, classically so. However, so many majors these days, ie marketing, are so vocational, I can’t see why sports should be the exception. </p>
<p>Marietta dad, I realize you are new around here. But I’m
Not. Telling me to go away? Not so much. You can go, though. I promise I won’t miss you the tiniest bit. </p>
<p>Wow, that is a lot of #s PG. 1. I am no fan of NCSU. Always follow the money. If the Gov’s conclusive review (not a true investigation) was legit then why another “final” one. Also look at whose alumni composes the BOG. 2. “Racist much”. Pulling the race card so early? It just so happens that nearly every irregular and questionable class was AFAM according to your esteemed ExGov that your UNC hired. It was an ingenious plan though, who could possibly question AFAM classes? If they did you could just call them racist, right? Actually it is the black student that is being short changed . Your university seems to have a long tradition in that area. As far as independent study goes, most universities use them for upper level research or thesis. Not for students who failed algebra. I am sure all those 25 pg papers where legit though. 3. Actually, according to his report there were over 500 type 1 and 2 unauthorized grade changes. 4. OK, but you don’t trust the ones you hire to know who can read at what level? Your university hired her. 5. Actually they are not. 6. Once again these are your students. Let’s see the other 6 AFAM major transcripts from 2005 Champ team. The proof is in the pudding. The reason the judge used to not release the redacted transcript was that the players would be identifiable. Why, b/c they all took similar courses to Mccants. Remember, there are your schools players and employees, not NCSU. 7. Have you checked out BBalls new APR. Not exactly as glowing as it used to be. 8.Sure it is when atheletes or others can’t perform basic work on a college level. Let’s face the fact that college is not for everybody. I really have no issue with who they admit. I do have a problem with how they keep them eligible to make money off them. I’m pretty sure that a musician that can’t or won’t perform at a minimal level won’t be kept in school for long. 9. The actual author of the FERPA law has said that schools are misusing it. I also can’t understand why UNC would throw its academic Rep under the bus. The corruption must be worse than I thought. 10. Again, absolutely no fan of NCSU. 11. Good answer for someone who has no answer but keep trying. I guess it’s fun being a TarHeel with all that’s going on.</p>
<p>I am not as well-versed on this subject as some of the posters, but having Coach Williams and the athletic dept denying this is occurring is an insult to anyone with a modicum of intelligence. Now there is a part of me that thinks we should stop pretending these athletes are actually attending these schools to get an education, but let’s stop the sanctimonious nonsense (propaganda) disseminated by the NCAA and schools like UNC.</p>
<p>Not going to argue with someone who actually believes that a judge and former governor are in on some conspiracy. Also, it’s always a great day to be a Heel.</p>
<p>These students are recruited when they are 16-17 years old. Adults? I don’t think so.</p>
<p>How many parents, who advise other parents here to call a lawyer any time their students have any trouble with officialdom, would say that these “adults” know exactly what to do?</p>
<p>PoetGrl - if I were called out for providing false information I would either verify the information as requested to maintain my credibility or apologize and correct my error, again maintaining my credibility. You chose to do neither. </p>
<p>Anyone not thinking UNC was involved in long-term cheating is a fool. I am very disappointed in UNC and they deserve death penalty in basketball.</p>
<p>Marietta Dad. I clearly misspoke. I was speaking of a federal law. I wrote a federal judge. It wasn’t a federal judge. However the judge attended Davidson for undergrad. As did the governor. I’m really not apologizing. I think this group of adults is exploiting the kids way worse than anyone else. Keeping the millions for themselves. Are you going to adress your mistake in not pointing out that the ea portion of the case had been settled out of court? No. I really don’t care if you don’t. It’s a message board dude. </p>
<p>Nobody in this situation with the exception of the coaches, in my opinion, cares about those kids. That’s why there is such an uproar about McCants and his well known lack of character both on
And off the court. </p>
<p>Had more money gone to the players in the OB case? I might say something else. I was originally very in favor of this case. As usual, though, none of the remuneration to the players. Sick</p>
<p>Many (most?) college students make up their minds about where to go to college when they are about 17 (depending on their birth date). If they subsequently decide that what is expected of them at College X is wrong for them, then they are free to leave, just like the recruited athletes. </p>