August 26, 1996
The University's Values
Among the highest values in a University community is respect for truth. It is essential to scholarship, to the teacher/student relationship, and to the strengthening of character and ethical reasoning in each of us. There can be no exceptions to this principle. Truth and integrity must also be the standard for everyone involved in intercollegiate athletics on this campus.
We recently learned of actions within the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics that violate the University's values. Our football coach, one of our student-athletes and an intern provided a sports writer with false information in regards to a shooting incident that occurred off-campus on August 9. Athletic Director Paul Bubb knew about the falsehood several days before he took corrective action.
I want to take this opportunity to inform you of corrective actions that have been taken so far. Coach Dave Baldwin has accepted responsibility for the false report and has been formally disciplined by Bubb. Baldwin has expressed his regret to his team and colleagues. Baldwin and Bubb have indicated that they will make a public apology to the University. For reasons unrelated to this incident, the intern involved in this matter has resigned; the student-athlete will be disciplined. Each individual, whether employee or student, has been required to accept responsibility for his own action, and each has accepted that responsibility.
Beyond these actions, I have asked Chief Ed Harrison and Vice President Ronald Kopita to provide an additional level of review of this circumstance. Chief Harrison will investigate the incident in which our student-athlete was injured to assure us that the student's conduct was proper in that circumstance. Vice President Kopita will review Bubb's actions and decisions and make certain that the policies and environment within the Division explicitly foster ethical behavior and good judgment. Vice President Kopita will determine whether additional disciplinary or corrective action is required.
Events like this are very difficult for us, because we are disappointed that colleagues we know and value have been revealed as fallible and wrong. We also know that those of us who are privileged to teach, coach and counsel students bear a greater responsibility to model the behavior we expect students to emulate.
Our commitment, as a university, to hold ourselves to the highest standards is one that we take very seriously and will rigorously uphold.
Blenda J. Wilson
President