UNC-CH Academics and Athletics in the news

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

The cover story in the March 3-March 9, 2014 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek magazine is about UNC-CH athletics. The cover is a Carolina basketball jersey with an "F" in place of a number.

[asu66]

[quote="McLeansvilleAppFan"]The cover story in the March 3-March 9, 2014 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek magazine is about UNC-CH athletics. The cover is a Carolina basketball jersey with an "F" in place of a number.




This is a big deal, now. UNC School of Journalism grads in prestigious positions all over the world have kept this stuff under wraps for decades. But no more. The whitewash is over; completely over!!


Ya gotta read this... http://www.businessweek.com/articles/20 ... wer#r=most popular

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I think it even mentioned that the the chairman of Bloomberg LP, owner of the magazine is an alumnus.

[YesAppCan]

Read all of it--without the assistance of a tutor I might add ... This also brings up the concept of "pay for play". I have no idea where all this eventually heads but it gives anyone reasons to be concerned on multiple fronts. One thing this subsequently gets to is this: How (and why) are these very sub-par STUDENTS getting through K-12? To me, the key word is RESPONSIBILITY... That starts with parenting and a good home environment. Seems to me our public school teachers/instructors/counselors are having to do more and more baby-sitting and a lot less teaching.

I hate this scandal comes to light with our sister institution-- It makes our state look bad. I'm no "fan" of UNC-CH but a huge fan of NC's system of public universities. I have so many thoughts running through my head after reading that... Could probably write a 20-page paper on it... "The Carolina Way".

[Saint3333]

I'm not sure I understand how someone could argue that this is another reason to pay the players?

Talk about avoiding the issue.

I also don't see how this reflects on App. They don't share their research dollars, I'm not taking credit for their wrongdoing. We certainly have our issues as all schools do but man they crossed way over the line.

[YesAppCan]

The paying the players comment did seem out of place in the article and purposely injected.
“We pretend,” he says, “that it’s feasible to recruit high school graduates with minimal academic qualifications, give them a full-time job as a football or basketball player at a Division I NCAA school, and somehow have them get up to college-level reading and writing skills at the same time that they’re enrolled in college-level classes.” Willingham’s experience, Southall adds, shows how “we’re all kidding ourselves.” What’s more, in response to escalating demands that undergraduate athletes deserve pay for their services, the NCAA argues that a scholarship and degree are sufficient compensation. The NCAA position crumbles, however, if the parchment represents little or no real education. (Quote from source article)

I think paying players is the "out" in some folks' minds for students that shouldn't be admitted to college... Separation.

[DoubleA]

There's a cloud of smoke rising in the east, and "it 'ain't pretty" . Denial and stonewalling won' t work any longer and the fall-out could be far reaching,

[AppinVA]

I'm not sure I understand how someone could argue that this is another reason to pay the players?

Talk about avoiding the issue.

I also don't see how this reflects on App. They don't share their research dollars, I'm not taking credit for their wrongdoing. We certainly have our issues as all schools do but man they crossed way over the line.

Yeah, I fear Chapel Hill's wrongdoings will wind up screwing us somehow while they get off unscathed.

[Saint3333]

So we it would be ok to pay players and then allow them to fake grades. Damn that is the most screwed up proposition I've seen yet.

Just let UNCCH sponsor a NBDL program and USFL football team and be done with it, they can play at their current location.

Goodbye college Athletics and student athletes, shame.

[appst89]

I think the concept of paying athletes relates to this article only if universities are forced to drop the ruse of student-athlete as it relates to revenue sports. This article clearly shows that UNC-CH has no intention of making its high profile athletes adhere to any sort of academic requirements. It's easy to infer from what happened in Chapel Hill that many other of the power players in the major sports are doing the same, or worse, to keep athletes eligible. Under those circumstances, the scholarships these kids are receiving are worthless.

This scandal at such a prominent institution could shake college athletics to its core, IF it's allowed to come out and is fully and honestly investigated. I have my doubts if such an investigation will ever be allowed to take place.

[canes_mj]

Really well written and fair article. I particularly liked how they called out the ridiculousness of UNC claiming their cheating system wasn't put in place to benefit athletes, and the even greater absurdity of the NCAA accepting that explanation. i also thought it was good that they pointed out instances where universities were retroactively punished (for much less) such as FSU, Memphis, etc., and how UNC has managed to still go unpunished. I'm glad this is going national. Other than Dan Kane from the N&O, media around here haven't given this much coverage (shocking I know).

[canes_mj]

UNC professor calls for titles to be vacated.

It's pretty simple really. Fake classes = academically ineligible players = forfeited/vacated wins. Hopefully the NCAA gets pressured into doing something.

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/unc-prof ... kdm9g.html

[DaphneUrquhart]

I think it even mentioned that the the chairman of Bloomberg LP, owner of the magazine is an alumnus.

Not every alumnus / alumna is a cheat and a fraud. Many - I dare say the vast majority - of us earned our way into Chapel Hill just as we earned the jobs we have now.

Are there problems in Chapel Hill? You bet! Do those problems have to attach to every living alum? I don't think so.

I think I'll get back to work now ...

[appdaze]

What will be interesting is what is said when the African Studies professor is on the stand facing 30 months in prison. He might just squeeeel.

[DoubleA]

The IMG marketing guy (a Wake alum) in one of the video attachments made the analogy that college athletic programs essentially serve as the marketing arm of the university, and in that role, are responsible for building the brand and image of the schoosl. This is all well and good, providing the athletic program is successful, well run and embodies the values of the institution. In this case, an academic scandal perpetuated by the athletic dept. has ruined the image and reputation of an institution that has long held itself out as a Public Ivy. How do you put a price tag on the damage done to the schools reputation, public image, and the UNC brand? I'm sure this proud university will be the butt of jokes in the media, late night TV, etc. for some time to come. This article should be a wake-up call to UNC, and honestly, to university leaders across the country.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I think it even mentioned that the the chairman of Bloomberg LP, owner of the magazine is an alumnus.

Not every alumnus / alumna is a cheat and a fraud. Many - I dare say the vast majority - of us earned our way into Chapel Hill just as we earned the jobs we have now.

Are there problems in Chapel Hill? You bet! Do those problems have to attach to every living alum? I don't think so.

I think I'll get back to work now ...

I agree about the mast majority. That includes my sister and some of my students that I know are decent people that deserve to be there.

I was mentioning this as a reply to an earlier post about the journalism connection to the school.

I think most know that UNC-CH produces a quality graduate in most all cases. And having the corruption there does not sully any of the degrees in any real manner. But what that said this does not really help the prestige of the school, and I do think it fair to see UNC-CH's academic rankings dinged some over this. Thought I am not that big on the rankings to start with so I am asking them to be dinged on something I don't care that much about, but I bet TBTB might care and a little hurt for TBTB is in order.

[MtnDevil95]

Looks like HBO is going to air this Tuesday night. Check out this excerpt.

http://www.hbo.com/real-sports-with-bry ... IAV3AXOA==

[scatman77]

Read all of it--without the assistance of a tutor I might add ... This also brings up the concept of "pay for play". I have no idea where all this eventually heads but it gives anyone reasons to be concerned on multiple fronts. One thing this subsequently gets to is this: How (and why) are these very sub-par STUDENTS getting through K-12? To me, the key word is RESPONSIBILITY... That starts with parenting and a good home environment. Seems to me our public school teachers/instructors/counselors are having to do more and more baby-sitting and a lot less teaching.

I hate this scandal comes to light with our sister institution-- It makes our state look bad. I'm no "fan" of UNC-CH but a huge fan of NC's system of public universities. I have so many thoughts running through my head after reading that... Could probably write a 20-page paper on it... "The Carolina Way".

Being in my 35th year of public school teaching I can say that you are a little off-base on the baby sitting scenario but there is an awful lot of unnecessary testing, state report cards, NCLB, and a lot of other crapola that is totally FUBAR and takes away from instruction. If teachers were to be allowed to practice the ART of teaching and not be worried about their EOC scores and failure rates you'd see better improvements. If kids were held back because they couldn't/wouldn't cut the butter in class, rather than socially promote them, there'd be improvements.

[asu66]

Looks like HBO is going to air this Tuesday night. Check out this excerpt.

http://www.hbo.com/real-sports-with-bry ... IAV3AXOA==

Ouch! Bernie Goldberg has living, willing evidence against "The Carolina Way" at UNC! This will be widely seen; and understood for what it is.

[appbio91]

Anybody watch this last night? It was very eye opening. Former UNC athletes saying they were told what their major would be and handed a class schedule on day one. Confirmed phantom class stories. This story was actually a very good case for paying these athletes because some of them are getting screwed. They are admitted even though they are not capable of succeeding and being granted worthless degrees so the NCAA and the university can appear to fulfilling their mission to graduate 50% of athletes. I was totally against paying athletes but some of these kids are totally being exploited and getting nothing in return. I would rather see the system return to the days when there was a minimum SAT but I suppose that would be seen as discriminatory in these politically correct times.