• Rutgers University's Abuse Scandal "does not constitute a 'hostile work environment'" but 'crossed t
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[url]http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2013/07/22/independent-report-of-mens-basketball-scandal-recommends-changes-at-rutgers/2575417/[/url] [quote]The Rutgers University Board of Governors on Monday released the results of an independent review of its recent basketball coaching scandal, a report that outlines how the university mishandled the allegations against deposed head coach Mike Rice and recommends improvements in university policies and procedures. The 20-page review, conducted by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP at a rate of $575 an hour, calls for the implementation of a university-wide risk assessment program and more formal coordination among human resources officials across the institution. [...] Rice was fired April 3, one day after ESPN aired a video montage that showed him throwing and kicking basketballs at players, shoving players and hurling bleeped-out expletives at them, including gay slurs. The clips were compiled and leaked by Murdock, whose contract was not renewed in June 2012. In addition to causing Rutgers national embarassment, the scandal resulted in the forced resignation of Pernetti and Wolf from their posts. Barchi also fended off widespread calls for his resignation, labeling his decision not to watch the now-infamous 30-minute video as "a failure of process." I regret that I did not ask to see the video when Tim first told me of its existence," Barchi said in announcing Pernetti's resignation April 5, "because I am certain that this situation would have had a very different outcome had I done so." In November, Rutgers commissioned John P. Lacey of Connell Foley LLP to investigate Murdock's accusations. [b]The 50-page report said Rice's conduct "does not constitute a 'hostile work environment' as the term is understood under Rutgers' anti-discrimination policies," but also concluded "that certain actions of Coach Rice did 'cross the line' of permissible conduct and that such actions constituted harassment or intimidation" and added that Pernetti "could reasonably determine that Coach Rice's actions tended to embarrass and bring shame to Rutgers in violation of Coach Rice's employment contract with Rutgers."[/b] Rather than fire Rice, Pernetti in December suspended Rice for three games and fined him $50,000. In his letter of resignation, Pernetti said Rutgers' in-house counsel advised him against terminating Rice at the time.[/quote] As a recap for previous news about the case: A temperamental basketball coach named Coach Rice throws verbal insults at students, hits them with basketballs, and creates an environment where players feel scared during practice. The case is brought up quietly among the athletic department and Rutgers's Board of Governors, and the Coach is suspended. Flash forward to March 2013, where ESPN runs a 30 minute segment on the scandal. The scandal blows up nationally, a few similar cases come out, and the abusive coach is fired by the University. The athletic director resigns under pressure. I'm a Rutgers student, and this has fueled a lot of bitterness in the Rutgers community. Academics are royally pissed because the Athletics department takes $10 million a year away from student's tuition (approx $1k/student) and most of that money is used extremely poorly (ex.: The University ran an extremely sloppy replacement committee for our Athletic Director, which ended with us receiving a former director who bullied sexual harassment victims and fired a pregnant woman because she wanted maternity leave). Many students and most professors/Graduates are relatively upset with our President too.
One way to deal with the college sports bullshit is to privatize the team on a campus to a third party. Which that party pays the students as professionals because it would be a profession. Then revenue would be done by ticket sales. [quote]does not constitute a hostile work environment[/quote] [quote]such actions constituted harassment or intimidation[/quote] [url]http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harass[/url] [quote]a : exhaust, fatigue b (1) : to annoy persistently (2) : to create an unpleasant or [b]hostile[/b] situation for especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct[/quote] what? how can that harassment not be hostile?
[QUOTE=Ithon;41557934]One way to deal with the college sports bullshit is to privatize the team on a campus to a third party. Which that party pays the students as professionals because it would be a profession. Then revenue would be done by ticket sales.[/quote] I really wish our University would do this. We're starting to kick out lower-income, financial aid/debt-stricken students this year just because of New Jersey's weak financial aid package and Rutgers's higher tuition. [quote] what? how can that harassment not be hostile? [/quote] There's probably a loophole in the system which allowed Coach Rice to remain on staff while simultaneously being reprimanded. I highly doubt this would have even went to the committee if he was a top Coach. Rutgers is literally inflated with the Old Boy system. If it wasn't for ESPN even reporting the issue, Coach Rice would still be throwing basketballs at students and calling them "faggots."
Was it even a successful team? I'd be surprised if it was.
[QUOTE=Psychokitten;41558161]Was it even a successful team? I'd be surprised if it was.[/QUOTE] Nope. Basketball players can't really do well on the field when they're more concerned about whether their Coach is going to behave himself at practice. Not to mention, many of the RU players are on scholarship. If they walk away from that abusive atmosphere, they also walk away from any chance at higher-education. It was lose-lose from the start.
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