California State University, Northridge

PRESS RELEASE

Sept. 3, 1996

Contact: Bruce Erickson or,
Carmen Ramos Chandler
(818) 677-2130
cchandler@exec.csun.edu

CSUN President Decides Sanctions in Football Incident

Cal State Northridge Athletics Director Paul Bubb will be placed on a five-day leave without pay and Matador football head coach Dave Baldwin will receive a letter of reprimand for their involvement in the cover-up of a shooting incident involving a football player.

The student-athlete has been suspended for the 1996 football season for violating team and Athletics Department rules.

Bubb and Baldwin were informed today of the disciplinary action by President Blenda J. Wilson after a meeting with Vice President for Student Affairs Ron Kopita.

"This has been a painful and disappointing experience for all of us," Wilson said. "I hope these corrective actions demonstrate our commitment to the high standards each of us needs to embody in all of our work with students and the community."

Kopita expressed similar sentiments.

"Honesty and truth are core to the philosophy of the university. In this incident, the individuals involved clearly violated these principles and that will not be tolerated," Kopita said. "It's unfortunate that this happened. I am hopeful that those involved have learned from their mistakes."

Kopita has also asked the Athletics Department to "carefully review how it interacts with the media with the goal of ensuring that we are always accurate and honest in reporting our sports news."

The suspension of the student-athlete was handed down late last week after university police chief Edward W. Harrison submitted an independent report on what happened to the football player when the player was shot in an off-campus incident on Aug. 9.