[Music] Wow well it’s a great day if you’re a
Wow well it’s a great day if you’re a
Wow well it’s a great day if you’re a Tarheel fan because we beat Duke last
Tarheel fan because we beat Duke last
Tarheel fan because we beat Duke last night but I wasn’t really going to start
night but I wasn’t really going to start
night but I wasn’t really going to start with that but I couldn’t help myself
with that but I couldn’t help myself
with that but I couldn’t help myself I was going to start with the memory a
I was going to start with the memory a
I was going to start with the memory a memory that I have of being a girl
memory that I have of being a girl
memory that I have of being a girl growing up in my house the house that I
growing up in my house the house that I
growing up in my house the house that I grew up in on the south side of Chicago
grew up in on the south side of Chicago
grew up in on the south side of Chicago in a small town called Beverly it was
in a small town called Beverly it was
in a small town called Beverly it was 1971 so yes this gray is for real 1971
1971 so yes this gray is for real 1971
1971 so yes this gray is for real 1971 and I was sitting on the stairs
and I was sitting on the stairs
and I was sitting on the stairs listening to my parents talk and I
listening to my parents talk and I
listening to my parents talk and I didn’t realize it at the time but they
didn’t realize it at the time but they
didn’t realize it at the time but they were talking about segregation they were
were talking about segregation they were
were talking about segregation they were talking about residential segregation
talking about residential segregation
talking about residential segregation and the activism that they were doing
and the activism that they were doing
and the activism that they were doing back in those days but what I remember
back in those days but what I remember
back in those days but what I remember and it resonated with me all these years
and it resonated with me all these years
and it resonated with me all these years what I heard them saying was that as
what I heard them saying was that as
what I heard them saying was that as parents we all want the same thing for
parents we all want the same thing for
parents we all want the same thing for our children we want our children to
our children we want our children to
our children we want our children to grow up in safe neighborhoods with good
grow up in safe neighborhoods with good
grow up in safe neighborhoods with good schools and that that’s something that
schools and that that’s something that
schools and that that’s something that I’ve thought about a lot over the years
I’ve thought about a lot over the years
I’ve thought about a lot over the years but I didn’t know you know flash-forward
but I didn’t know you know flash-forward
but I didn’t know you know flash-forward 35 years and I’d be arguing some of
35 years and I’d be arguing some of
35 years and I’d be arguing some of these same basic principles and talking
these same basic principles and talking
these same basic principles and talking about some of these issues but not in a
about some of these issues but not in a
about some of these issues but not in a neighborhood but in a well a much bigger
neighborhood but in a well a much bigger
neighborhood but in a well a much bigger neighborhood in college towns all across
neighborhood in college towns all across
neighborhood in college towns all across the United States of America because of
the United States of America because of
the United States of America because of that realization my upbringing and what
that realization my upbringing and what
that realization my upbringing and what I learned from my parents when they
I learned from my parents when they
I learned from my parents when they didn’t even probably think I was paying
didn’t even probably think I was paying
didn’t even probably think I was paying attention I got into a little bit of
attention I got into a little bit of
attention I got into a little bit of trouble in the town that I lived and
trouble in the town that I lived and
trouble in the town that I lived and worked in as a grown up my husband Chuck
worked in as a grown up my husband Chuck
worked in as a grown up my husband Chuck and I decided to raise our three now
and I decided to raise our three now
and I decided to raise our three now grown children in Chapel Hill North
grown children in Chapel Hill North
grown children in Chapel Hill North Carolina and you’ve probably you
Carolina and you’ve probably you
Carolina and you’ve probably you probably are familiar not just by the
probably are familiar not just by the
probably are familiar not just by the fact that we beat Duke last night the
fact that we beat Duke last night the
fact that we beat Duke last night the Tar Heels let me mention that again but
Tar Heels let me mention that again but
Tar Heels let me mention that again but rub that in but also you probably are
rub that in but also you probably are
rub that in but also you probably are familiar with some of our notable sports
familiar with some of our notable sports
familiar with some of our notable sports figures Michael Jordan and perhaps Mia
figures Michael Jordan and perhaps Mia
figures Michael Jordan and perhaps Mia Hamm but the University of North
Hamm but the University of North
Hamm but the University of North Carolina is also in
Carolina is also in
Carolina is also in amazing research institution and it’s
amazing research institution and it’s
amazing research institution and it’s one of our oldest and finest public
one of our oldest and finest public
one of our oldest and finest public universities in the country and while we
universities in the country and while we
universities in the country and while we were living there I changed careers from
were living there I changed careers from
were living there I changed careers from human resource professional to an
human resource professional to an
human resource professional to an educator and on this glorious day in
educator and on this glorious day in
educator and on this glorious day in 2003 I walked on to the Carolina campus
2003 I walked on to the Carolina campus
2003 I walked on to the Carolina campus as a new employee I was so excited I had
as a new employee I was so excited I had
as a new employee I was so excited I had I was pinching myself
I was pinching myself
I was pinching myself I had actually really found my dream job
I had actually really found my dream job
I had actually really found my dream job in higher education and I had intended
in higher education and I had intended
in higher education and I had intended and then did complete another degree so
and then did complete another degree so
and then did complete another degree so it was just fantastic and a fantastic
it was just fantastic and a fantastic
it was just fantastic and a fantastic day but as I mentioned I hit a little
day but as I mentioned I hit a little
day but as I mentioned I hit a little bump in that red cobblestone beautiful
bump in that red cobblestone beautiful
bump in that red cobblestone beautiful pavement nine years into my higher
pavement nine years into my higher
pavement nine years into my higher education career I blew the whistle and
education career I blew the whistle and
education career I blew the whistle and called fall on academic and athletic
called fall on academic and athletic
called fall on academic and athletic fraud the UNC case this academic fraud
fraud the UNC case this academic fraud
fraud the UNC case this academic fraud case has since become known as the
case has since become known as the
case has since become known as the largest and longest academic fraud case
largest and longest academic fraud case
largest and longest academic fraud case in the history of college sports what on
in the history of college sports what on
in the history of college sports what on earth was I thinking um what what
earth was I thinking um what what
earth was I thinking um what what happened what followed was so
happened what followed was so
happened what followed was so unbelievable and I really had no idea
unbelievable and I really had no idea
unbelievable and I really had no idea what would follow but university leaders
what would follow but university leaders
what would follow but university leaders tried very hard to silence me and to
tried very hard to silence me and to
tried very hard to silence me and to scare me as has the NCAA in a recent
scare me as has the NCAA in a recent
scare me as has the NCAA in a recent deposition for a major court battle
after going public with a local reporter
after going public with a local reporter from the News & Observer Dan Kane I was
from the News & Observer Dan Kane I was
from the News & Observer Dan Kane I was subjected to death threats hate mail and
subjected to death threats hate mail and
subjected to death threats hate mail and an amazing discrediting campaign and I
an amazing discrediting campaign and I
an amazing discrediting campaign and I believe this well of course I was
believe this well of course I was
believe this well of course I was demoted and stripped of my title and
demoted and stripped of my title and
demoted and stripped of my title and moved to the basement like all other
moved to the basement like all other
moved to the basement like all other whistleblowers and if you’ve seen the
whistleblowers and if you’ve seen the
whistleblowers and if you’ve seen the movie I did bring my stapler with me
movie I did bring my stapler with me
movie I did bring my stapler with me god have a good stapler so but I believe
god have a good stapler so but I believe
god have a good stapler so but I believe that this this all are allergic reaction
that this this all are allergic reaction
that this this all are allergic reaction to whistleblowers stems from our own
to whistleblowers stems from our own
to whistleblowers stems from our own maybe unconscious desires for secrets
maybe unconscious desires for secrets
maybe unconscious desires for secrets and for this code of silence no one at
and for this code of silence no one at
and for this code of silence no one at Carolina spoke up 22 years of academic
Carolina spoke up 22 years of academic
Carolina spoke up 22 years of academic fraud the faculty didn’t say anything
fraud the faculty didn’t say anything
fraud the faculty didn’t say anything the deans didn’t say anything
the deans didn’t say anything
the deans didn’t say anything administrators students parents it’s
administrators students parents it’s
administrators students parents it’s it’s amazing really when you think about
it’s amazing really when you think about
it’s amazing really when you think about it that the truth of the matter is that
it that the truth of the matter is that
it that the truth of the matter is that game days are spectacular we love we
game days are spectacular we love we
game days are spectacular we love we love game days and I believe that game
love game days and I believe that game
love game days and I believe that game days give us a snapshot of what is
days give us a snapshot of what is
days give us a snapshot of what is fundamentally wrong with our current
fundamentally wrong with our current
fundamentally wrong with our current culture we’re the only country in the
culture we’re the only country in the
culture we’re the only country in the world to connect athletics and academics
world to connect athletics and academics
world to connect athletics and academics and by doing so I believe that we have
and by doing so I believe that we have
and by doing so I believe that we have emphasized sports and entertainment
emphasized sports and entertainment
emphasized sports and entertainment especially in higher education but it
especially in higher education but it
especially in higher education but it really trickles all the way down and
really trickles all the way down and
really trickles all the way down and we’ve de-emphasized academics one thing
we’ve de-emphasized academics one thing
we’ve de-emphasized academics one thing that is really striking about athletics
that is really striking about athletics
that is really striking about athletics versus academics is that these athletes
versus academics is that these athletes
versus academics is that these athletes are being told in a contract that
are being told in a contract that
are being told in a contract that instead of paying money they’re going to
instead of paying money they’re going to
instead of paying money they’re going to be given a world-class education and
be given a world-class education and
be given a world-class education and this is oftentimes not true athletes in
this is oftentimes not true athletes in
this is oftentimes not true athletes in Division one sports in particular and I
Division one sports in particular and I
Division one sports in particular and I talked about what we sometimes know is
talked about what we sometimes know is
talked about what we sometimes know is revenue sports but we’ve now called them
revenue sports but we’ve now called them
revenue sports but we’ve now called them the profit sports Division one
the profit sports Division one
the profit sports Division one basketball and football players in
basketball and football players in
basketball and football players in particular they don’t have the same
particular they don’t have the same
particular they don’t have the same experience that regular students have so
experience that regular students have so
experience that regular students have so think about your own academic experience
think about your own academic experience
think about your own academic experience and then we think about these athletes
and then we think about these athletes
and then we think about these athletes and I worked with them for seven years
and I worked with them for seven years
and I worked with them for seven years they actually don’t have access to the
they actually don’t have access to the
they actually don’t have access to the same education because they can’t really
same education because they can’t really
same education because they can’t really work part-time jobs or do
work part-time jobs or do
work part-time jobs or do internships they have mandatory summer
internships they have mandatory summer
internships they have mandatory summer school
school
school they can’t take classes or labs in the
they can’t take classes or labs in the
they can’t take classes or labs in the late afternoon so this is a bit of a
late afternoon so this is a bit of a
late afternoon so this is a bit of a struggle they really are
struggle they really are
struggle they really are steered to particular majors we see this
steered to particular majors we see this
steered to particular majors we see this on College GameDay we actually see
on College GameDay we actually see
on College GameDay we actually see athletes who have you know their we see
athletes who have you know their we see
athletes who have you know their we see it on the screen that they’re all in the
it on the screen that they’re all in the
it on the screen that they’re all in the same two or three majors but one thing
same two or three majors but one thing
same two or three majors but one thing that you should understand about the
that you should understand about the
that you should understand about the Carolina case that I should explain is
Carolina case that I should explain is
Carolina case that I should explain is that the the way this athletic
that the the way this athletic
that the the way this athletic eligibility system was created was that
eligibility system was created was that
eligibility system was created was that a slate of paper classes were made a
a slate of paper classes were made a
a slate of paper classes were made a bogus paper classes in a particular
bogus paper classes in a particular
bogus paper classes in a particular Department and athletes were steered to
Department and athletes were steered to
Department and athletes were steered to these particular classes and these
these particular classes and these
these particular classes and these classes were a paper a prompt was given
classes were a paper a prompt was given
classes were a paper a prompt was given but no work was really done this paper
but no work was really done this paper
but no work was really done this paper was maybe copy or pasted from an
was maybe copy or pasted from an
was maybe copy or pasted from an internet site or a book and so many
internet site or a book and so many
internet site or a book and so many people on campus knew that this was
people on campus knew that this was
people on campus knew that this was going on an investigative high high
going on an investigative high high
going on an investigative high high profile investigative reporter has since
profile investigative reporter has since
profile investigative reporter has since Donna reports and made public a lot of
Donna reports and made public a lot of
Donna reports and made public a lot of these documents to show that this is
these documents to show that this is
these documents to show that this is this is a verified system but some still
this is a verified system but some still
this is a verified system but some still deny at Carolina that this paper class
deny at Carolina that this paper class
deny at Carolina that this paper class system existed but what it did really
system existed but what it did really
system existed but what it did really was it kept these athletes between 1988
was it kept these athletes between 1988
was it kept these athletes between 1988 and 2011 from getting what we promised
and 2011 from getting what we promised
and 2011 from getting what we promised them which was a real education I
them which was a real education I
them which was a real education I believe they were victimized by this
believe they were victimized by this
believe they were victimized by this paper class system another good example
paper class system another good example
paper class system another good example of how these athletes are not
of how these athletes are not
of how these athletes are not necessarily students at all they’re
necessarily students at all they’re
necessarily students at all they’re athletes is when we take a look at our
athletes is when we take a look at our
athletes is when we take a look at our Bowl team that went to a bowl game the
Bowl team that went to a bowl game the
Bowl team that went to a bowl game the year that I spoke out these athletes
year that I spoke out these athletes
year that I spoke out these athletes together had I think maybe it’s back a
together had I think maybe it’s back a
together had I think maybe it’s back a slide I’m not sure oh no here it is –
slide I’m not sure oh no here it is –
slide I’m not sure oh no here it is – here it is 17 students so 17 football
here it is 17 students so 17 football
here it is 17 students so 17 football players starters and regular players
players starters and regular players
players starters and regular players together
together
together I had a 2.3 GPA
I had a 2.3 GPA
I had a 2.3 GPA the average at Caroline is about a 3.2
the average at Caroline is about a 3.2
the average at Caroline is about a 3.2 and together they had ten semesters of
and together they had ten semesters of
and together they had ten semesters of academic probation so below a 2.0 there
academic probation so below a 2.0 there
academic probation so below a 2.0 there were 29 FS and 53 DS on their unofficial
were 29 FS and 53 DS on their unofficial
were 29 FS and 53 DS on their unofficial transcripts literacy is part of the
transcripts literacy is part of the
transcripts literacy is part of the problem with all of this too and as an
problem with all of this too and as an
problem with all of this too and as an educator I realized this but probably
educator I realized this but probably
educator I realized this but probably half of these this group of players were
half of these this group of players were
half of these this group of players were reading below grade level and from my
reading below grade level and from my
reading below grade level and from my experience as a reading specialist at
experience as a reading specialist at
experience as a reading specialist at least two or non-readers so literacy
least two or non-readers so literacy
least two or non-readers so literacy really is at the core of these problems
really is at the core of these problems
really is at the core of these problems and many of these players are
and many of these players are
and many of these players are underprepared for the academic rigor of
underprepared for the academic rigor of
underprepared for the academic rigor of the institutions yet we let them in the
the institutions yet we let them in the
the institutions yet we let them in the front door and all of this stems again
front door and all of this stems again
front door and all of this stems again from our connected silence and our
from our connected silence and our
from our connected silence and our rationalizations that we are really
rationalizations that we are really
rationalizations that we are really giving these young people a chance that
giving these young people a chance that
giving these young people a chance that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise
maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise
maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise gotten but but I argue that this is such
gotten but but I argue that this is such
gotten but but I argue that this is such a serious problem because then they’re
a serious problem because then they’re
a serious problem because then they’re leaving the institution without anything
leaving the institution without anything
leaving the institution without anything at all because we know that only a few
at all because we know that only a few
at all because we know that only a few percent really do make it to the pros
percent really do make it to the pros
percent really do make it to the pros and what we really need to consider here
and what we really need to consider here
and what we really need to consider here is that race is the whale that is
is that race is the whale that is
is that race is the whale that is swimming just below the surface because
swimming just below the surface because
swimming just below the surface because you see black students men in particular
you see black students men in particular
you see black students men in particular only make up 2.8 percent of our
only make up 2.8 percent of our
only make up 2.8 percent of our undergraduate populations yet more than
undergraduate populations yet more than
undergraduate populations yet more than half of those on our football team and
half of those on our football team and
half of those on our football team and those are our basketball teams in
those are our basketball teams in
those are our basketball teams in Division one our black males so really
Division one our black males so really
Division one our black males so really this is all a charade by the NCAA and a
this is all a charade by the NCAA and a
this is all a charade by the NCAA and a myth designed to make white mostly white
myth designed to make white mostly white
myth designed to make white mostly white fan bases feel good well while our black
fan bases feel good well while our black
fan bases feel good well while our black athletes are exploited I believe that
athletes are exploited I believe that
athletes are exploited I believe that there’s something else that we can
there’s something else that we can
there’s something else that we can connect here with college sports and
connect here with college sports and
connect here with college sports and that’s our black lives matter movement
that’s our black lives matter movement
that’s our black lives matter movement because I really truly believe that
because I really truly believe that
because I really truly believe that college sports is another way that we
college sports is another way that we
college sports is another way that we actually it’s another social injustice
actually it’s another social injustice
actually it’s another social injustice system it’s another way that we are
system it’s another way that we are
system it’s another way that we are keeping a group of people young men
keeping a group of people young men
keeping a group of people young men our black athletes out of our economy
and we really need to together break
and we really need to together break this silence this crippling code of
this silence this crippling code of
this silence this crippling code of silence that’s really enforced by the
silence that’s really enforced by the
silence that’s really enforced by the NCAA and its member institutions a real
NCAA and its member institutions a real
NCAA and its member institutions a real cartel we need to gather speak out and
cartel we need to gather speak out and
cartel we need to gather speak out and break this silence and we need to make
break this silence and we need to make
break this silence and we need to make sure that education and learning is a
sure that education and learning is a
sure that education and learning is a priority so that these young people are
priority so that these young people are
priority so that these young people are getting what they really deserve we need
getting what they really deserve we need
getting what they really deserve we need to we need to drive home the importance
to we need to drive home the importance
to we need to drive home the importance of learning and education just like we
of learning and education just like we
of learning and education just like we asked our athletes to drive the ball
asked our athletes to drive the ball
asked our athletes to drive the ball down the hardwood floors or across the
down the hardwood floors or across the
down the hardwood floors or across the 50-yard line we really need to make this
50-yard line we really need to make this
50-yard line we really need to make this a public conversation so that we can
a public conversation so that we can
a public conversation so that we can change the what just filters all the way
change the what just filters all the way
change the what just filters all the way down through our education system and
down through our education system and
down through our education system and really it’s the only way that we can say
really it’s the only way that we can say
really it’s the only way that we can say what my parents were saying back in 1971
what my parents were saying back in 1971
what my parents were saying back in 1971 when I was a young girl sitting on the
when I was a young girl sitting on the
when I was a young girl sitting on the stairs listening and not really knowing
stairs listening and not really knowing
stairs listening and not really knowing enough to offer an opinion but what my
enough to offer an opinion but what my
enough to offer an opinion but what my parents were seeing which is a universal
parents were seeing which is a universal
parents were seeing which is a universal truth is that all of us as parents want
truth is that all of us as parents want
truth is that all of us as parents want the same thing for our children and we
the same thing for our children and we
the same thing for our children and we need to come together and make sure that
need to come together and make sure that
need to come together and make sure that our young athletes are no longer
our young athletes are no longer
our young athletes are no longer exploited and that by doing that I
exploited and that by doing that I
exploited and that by doing that I believe that we’re going to show our
believe that we’re going to show our
believe that we’re going to show our children and especially our black
children and especially our black
children and especially our black children in this country that their
children in this country that their
children in this country that their lives really do matter to us thank you
lives really do matter to us thank you
lives really do matter to us thank you very much
”
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