thanks in advance.

 

Remember: You need to get outside opinions and base this in your work.

 

You are the Athletics Director at a Division I-A institution and you are on the fundraising trail one day when you receive a call from your top assistant. The assistant tells you that your department has the front page in the K-Town Star for varying indiscretions. You are stunned to find this out and tell your assistant you will stop raising money and take the university jet back to campus to handle the situation. Upon your arrival you are met by a barrage of reporters asking questions about your department, all you say is that you have no thoughts on the matter at the moment, but you avoid saying you have no clue of what is going on. You call an impromptu meeting with the administration to discuss what is to do.

 

You are given a copy of the article filling the front page and continuing onto the back page. The headline reads: "East Podunk U under investigation". The story includes alleged indiscretions, which include academic fraud, improper conduct on the part of coaches, and, worst of all in your opinion, recruiting infractions. The details of the story are described below:

 

"The NCAA announced today that East Podunk University is the subject of a NCAA investigation after allegations of major infractions surfaced over the weekend. Former football star Kicker Shankedit alleged that associate athletic director for student services Donna Cheatsmuch arranged for players to take oral exams and had her staff of 12 write papers for every star athlete in the program.

"I still to this day have a problem with it," said Shankedit. "I received this assistance and I went through my college education not learning a thing. I felt it was my civic duty to inform the people of this rampant problem."

Shankedit went on to explain that he took an exam, which was in all-essay format, as a 15-minute oral exam. He also said the papers written for him were in classes such as Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, Human Sexuality, and Badminton. He said that everyone was having it done so why should he be different.

Additionally, allegations of improper conduct on the part of the head coaches have also surfaced.

An anonymous member of a sorority at West BFE College emailed the K-Town Star copies of photos from a party thrown at her sorority showing EPU's three-time national championship winning head baseball coach, Charlie Hustle, kissing young coeds and what is allegedly an alcoholic beverage in his hand.

"He was a lot of fun," said the young lady, who called after the photos were received. "I just do not see it as being appropriate for a coach to be hanging out with us and I decided it was time to show what this coach was all about. It was a good time, but he really didn't belong there."

She refused to comment on the contents of the cup the coach had in his hand in the photo.

It has also been alleged that EPU committed numerous infractions in the courting of next year's basketball recruiting class.

Mad Handle, the nation's top recruit and signee of EPU, alleged that assistant basketball coach Wanna Getpaid handed him a $10,000 check with his name on it and stated it was for anything he wanted just that he had to sign with EPU. Co-signees Bendin Rims, Droppin Jays and Wipin Glass have also alleged smaller checks.

The NCAA has announced it will open an immediate investigation into these allegations with investigators on their way at press time.

"This is a problem we have got to do something about," said NCAA President Mills Bland. "Schools such as this have got to pay for their indiscretions and our staff will work to curb these ill-effects."

EPU President F. Integrated Model and head football coach I.M. Horrid refused comment until the facts have been established. EPU's Athletics Director was unavailable for comment.

 

This article has started a firestorm calling for the jobs of the AD, head coaches and academic advisors. The Faculty Council has convened and is looking into the facts of the case.

 

Later that night a men's fencing player is involved in a brawl at a local watering hole and gets his leg broken, but manages to stab another student eight times after an argument concerning the money the victim owed to the athlete, who serves a bookmaker. The media never finds out, but head fencing coach Nonrev Sport contacts the Athletics Director to find out what the punishment might be. However, this is not the first time Sport has had to endure this after seven other fencers were jailed with two serving 25 years for armed robbery, sexual assault and illegal bookmaking.

 

This could not have occurred at a worse time for EPU with the NCAA opening an investigation into the allegations in the K-Town Star article and now a student-athlete being accused of a stabbing after an incident concerning gambling.

 

The Athletics Director is completely distraught about these situations. Damage control is top on the AD's mind right now, but the AD needs to figure out what to do about these situations. The AD dismisses the meeting and says they will meet again before the day is through. You, the AD, take a little time to gather your thoughts and try to find a way out and since you have a contract with the university that states you cannot gain any financial package if you resign your options are limited.

 

What way out is there? You have to make some decisions and they are not the easiest decisions for you to make.

------

? You are the AD, you have decisions to make. What would you do first and foremost? Why?

? Do you agree with the result in the similar cases you found? Why or why not?

? The NCAA is investigating your school, what do you do? Why?

? This is all negative publicity for the university, but what can your media relations person do to control the damage? Why?

? What do you do in the end? Do you keep your job or resign due to pressure? Or do you feel the President fires you?

I'll try to find links to some of the stories out there. thanks again though

I think you have to wait for internal investigations to conclude. You do damage control: PC-type snippets about how 'we dont tolerate this kind of behavior at EPU' and until the investigation is concluded, nothing can be ascertained at this time. These are all allegations at this point.

 

Then you meet with the individuals involved. There is a lot of mess to sort out. There are somethings you just have to punish and take the heat on - but by correcting the problem, no bad will come of it.

 

THere is no such thing as bad PR. You could take this opportunity to show that EPU is serious, and that it legitmatel cares about the perception of its program and it prides itself on being honest and fair. Comply and keep things open and apologetic but firm.

 

If allegations are true, deal with them on case by case basis.

 

For Football scenario, fire the staff that was making up exams for players. Expel players for cheating. It is an inexcusable offense where EPU stresses education first, athletics second.

 

For the baseball coach, suggest that there was a hidden agenda for the sorority girls there, that they should have known better when an older man shows up at their party and that he is a recognizable part of the University. Dont absolve the coach of any wrongdoing - have him make a public statement and discuss that the matter is under inspection and will be dealt with by the university privately.

 

That is a start, I dont think there is enough detail given in this project to make an appropriate decision - only formulate an approach.

 

You may have to fire the basketball coach and find a replacement if allegations are true. Again, you show no tolerance for cheating. As for the players, they have to turn their money back in and decide, publicly, if they want to commit to EPU. Otherwise, they are free to go and find another place to play. Puts the pressure on them not to be cheaters and shames them.

 

For fencing, it is non rev. I didnt know it competed collegiately. Disband the whole program.

 

That is a start.

dude, you are awesome