February 12, 2010

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FRIDAY

Pipe Dream
Established 1946 The Free Word On Campus for 63 years

www.bupipedream.com

Binghamton University

Vol. LXXVII, Issue 6

news

Extended investigation

release

Go to www.bupipedream.com for multimedia coverage, including the full audit results and DeFleur press conference video

Getting through V-day

Love it or loathe it, Valentines Day is upon us

opinion

Not our finest hour

As DeFleur turns toward retirement, corruption and cover-ups disgrace BUs name

Athletic department review released: DeFleur was complicit in misconduct

Ashley Tarr
Editor in Chief

In a report to the SUNY board of trustees that attempts to move beyond this sad chapter in Binghamton Universitys history, the reports authors spotlight a group of officials who looked the other way in exchange for wins on the court and pressured others to do the same. Whether it was fighting the admissions department on its resistance to admit students who did not meet academic standards, ignoring requests from officials for academic information on the basketball team or vigorously defending BUs recruitment practices to other America East Conference presidents and athletic directors, these officials consistently chose to ignore clear signs of trouble and push for wins, no matter the cost. Judge Judith Kaye and a team of lawyers, who authored the report, ultimately place blame in the hands of President Lois DeFleur, former athletic director Joel Thirer and Vice Provost Michael McGoff, among other top officials, in the 102-page report. They also attempt to explain what led to a number of incidents that put BU in the spotlight from the highly publicized arrest of a star player, to the removal of five more players, as well as Thirers resignation. The document, which cost SUNY $913,000, also sheds light on the events prior to the removal of those players, including allegations that a number of them were involved with a debit card scheme, as well

Teressa Pace/Photo Editor

President Lois DeFleur held a press conference Tuesday with campus media groups, during which Pipe Dream reporters asked pre-approved questions. DeFleur answered a total of three questions. Two days later, the results of a review of BUs athletic department were released, largely blaming DeFleur and other officials for incidents involving the mens basketball team. For more coverage of the conference, check out www.bupipedream.com.

as claims that others had been caught with drugs. It also states that DeFleur had been notified of the alleged incidents in most cases. In its final pages, the report recommends that BU establish a more active role in oversight and control of the athletics program, and that SUNY should consider appointment of an athletic oversight officer. At times, as this report shows, the intensity of the desire to win may undermine and compromise that primary [academic] mission, it reads. The president took no corrective action in her role as the supervisor of the athletic director and the person charged with ultimate responsibility for BUs intercollegiate athletic program. DeFleur, who over winter break announced her plans to retire this July, held a press conference with campus media groups Tuesday. Pipe Dream reporters, who had requested an interview several times, were present at the conference. In total, the reporters were allowed to ask three preapproved questions before the meeting came to an end. At the conference, DeFleur said she will have no administrative involvement with the University once she retires, aside from giving her support. She said she believes change is good. We believe the report speaks for itself, reads a statement from SUNY board of trustees Chairman Carl T. Hayden and Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.

See TRUTH Page 2

Text message communications suggest NCAA bylaw violations

Rob Bellon
Assistant News Editor

Thirer sought to lower bar for star basketball players

Melissa Bykofsky
News Editor

A SUNY review of Binghamton Universitys athletic department that revealed knowledge and complicity in wrongdoing at all levels of administration including President Lois DeFleur also detailed a series of potential NCAA regulatory violations by basketball coaching staff. The authors of the report outlined four categories of possible wrongdoing in an effort to move away from the mistakes of the past. TEXT MESSAGES REVEAL ACADEMIC INTERVENTION The report revealed text message communications between then-player Malik Alvin and assistant coach Marc Hsu. The messages implied that the Hsu was assisting

Alvin with homework assignments. Yo the paper [is] due 12 noon, Alvin texted Hsu on May 11, 2009. I wrote 2 1/2 pages but I need you to reword the part about the book because I got that from the internet. Hsu responded, Ok so send it to me then. Alvin texted Hsu further instructions on writing the paper. I will send [it] to [Mr. Alvins tutor] in the am, Hsu responded. According to the report, Hsu said that his role in helping Alvin with schoolwork was not inappropriate. It also implicated Hsu in giving players money for gas and food, as well as helping Alvin pay a fine for criminal activity. Senior David Fine, who was released from the team last fall, said he never received any money

Athletic department and administration officials worked together to make the 2008-09 mens basketball team the NCAA champions they were, but before all that, they pressured the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to lower academic standards for athletes and admit them to Binghamton University. At least, those are the findings of the review conducted by Judge Judith Kaye and her team. Upon entering Division I athletics in 2006, BU had to conduct a self-study of the athletic department to ensure the University was in compliance with NCAA Division I operating principles. POLICY FOR ADMITTING RECRUITS According to the Report to the Board of

Trustees of the State University of New York by retired Judge Judith Kaye, BU had to demonstrate that it only admits student-athletes who meet the academic expectations of the University in order to receive NCAA certification. When a coach chooses a recruit, David Eagan, the director of compliance for BU, must review this recommendation, and then forward the decision to admissions. These recommendations are then reviewed by the director and associate director of admissions, and if necessary the vice provost for enrollment along with the provost. The job of the admissions staff, according to the report, is to base its final decision on the probability of the recruits academic success at the University, with the understanding that support services, such as the Education

See TEXT Page 2

See ADMIT Page 4