After reading this article I am truly amazed and speechless. How can a superior university such as North Carolina get away with allowing their student athletes to take fake classes? The article stated that more than 3,100 students were enrolled in and received credit for these fake classes. Just about half of these students were athletes. Most of these classes were created and graded by a single employee by the name of Deborah Crowder. What she did was morally and ethically unacceptable.
After reading this article, I must say I am completely shocked. How could a school allow this to happen? And why? I understand that D1 athletes are under a lot of stress and pressure, but setting up fake classes ins't the answer. It just goes to show that schools and athletic programs just use their players. They don't necessarily care how the students do in school, only how they perform athletically. And for them to be able to perform in their sports ,they need to just do well enough in school. How sad is that. Isn't college where you go to get a degree? Or is now becoming a source for sports? In my opinion, it brings about a good question that we've previously discussed. Should sports and school be separated? In this situation, I think if they were separated...all this would be non existent.
This whole scenario makes me wonder about the professors and people hired at UNC. Do they really have the moral and ethical requirements needed to be at a university? I just don't understand. If students think its okay to go about life like this (just getting through and not trying)..then what will our society come to? I honestly don't think UNC is the only school that's done this. So how many students have cheated their way through college? How many actually earning degrees that they actually deserved? Kinda scary if you think about it. There may be people out there in professions that they really shouldn't be in. If that makes sense. I just still can't get over this article. It makes me outraged. I honestly just do not understand how people think this is okay and how professors can play a part.
I agree with Nicci, i just do not see how people see that this is the right way to handle the situation. I can personally think of many other ways to help them keep their grades up but with out breaking the rules. It just that in division 1 they do not rely on the academics but the athletics and keeping them eligible.
First off Go UK, and secondly I cannot believe a university with as high as a status of UNC could allow something like this to happen. 3,100 students, 46% of which were athletes, took these phantom classes. I forget what the exact number of students we have at TMC, I think 2000 but the number of students that took these classes almost doubled the number of students enrolled here at TMC! This is just shocking and to think that his occurred over almost a 20 year period...basically since I was born this scandal has been occurring. I agree with Nicci, on the fact that UNC is most likely not the only school to be doing such actions. It casts a shade of doubt on BIG Universities, no longer are they an institution dedicated to the advancement of the minds which they allow into their schools but a business which just wants your money. Now not to say that they are like this but when it comes to people who can help the university make money they are likely to help that individual in any way possible. The commercialization of college. This is why I believe small colleges like TMC are better colleges to LEARN at.
I agree with Nick. This is a prime example of commercialization of a college. Students are just money. It's sad. That's also why I agree that smaller colleges are better. Smaller colleges want you to learn and be prepared for the real world.
You are right Nick. The commercialization of sports doesn't have the affect it does at the DI level compared to the DIII level. Im glad we are not directly affected by athletics making significant amounts of money for the school and it is academically based.
This is a huge scandal. Its hard to say that the administration, athletic directors and coaches didnt know about this and i strongly believe they did. How could you let this happen? I bet most of those athletes that took the fake classes didnt move onto the professional level. So how do you value their education and should they be stripped of their degrees? I say yes. Everyone else is busting ass to get a degree and they just spit all over it by creating fake classes so these athletes can indulge in a care free academic atmosphere. Its downright sad and UNC should be, in my opinion, barred from athletic competition for a reasonable amount of time. That seems fair to me. You can;t just move around academics and put athletics over it. I was shocked that it was a prestigious university like UNC, and know i don't see them as so prestigous anymore. I bet every single coach knew what was going on but yet they value the athletic side of things more. There needs to be punishment given to the programs involved in the university. However, I don't think the NCAA will issue any real punishment because they make most of their profit from athletics. Just think all the other schools that do this around the NCAA. how many "tutors" simply do all the athletes homework for a simple autograph? Its scary to think about and morally wrong.
I agree completely, UNC has lost a lot of respect from many people across the country. I feel that past graduates now have a blemish on there diplomas. Even if it is a student that was not an athlete. I agree with Jake that the penalty should be what is known as the death penalty, where the school cannot compete in collegiate competition for a certain amount of time. The NCAA should step up and do this, but will they? No they will not punish them that bad due to the amount of money that is made off of UNC sports. The school is known world wide and NCAA will not interfere with filling there pockets full of money. The NCAA as an organization is very corrupt, and this case just shows a part of what we do not know about.
I agree with you Pat. I do not think the NCAA will put a punishment on UNC just because of the revenue they generate. This will blemish the academic credibility of the institution.
This entire situation is somewhat unbelievable, to stoop so low when there are numerous other LEGAL options which could have helped keep struggling athletes "afloat". The athletes could have been assigned tutors, they could have been enrolled in the easiest classes, they could have taken online classes and had another student do their work for crying out loud. But to entirely make up a class and give students grades with no work at all to back them up is insane. I have a hard time believing upper level employees had no clue this was going on. For something this drastic to take place for multiple years there would have at least been signs that they decided to ignore. I believe and championships or records held by any of the athletes enrolled in these fake classes should be revoked by the NCAA, and serious steps should be taken to ensure a scandal of this level never occurs again.
I think the UNC scandal is ridiculous. The fact that so many people thought that this was okay to do for the athletes. In reality, they have already had people cut some corners for them witch does not make it right but the fact that teachers are allowed to come away with letting the students just pass though for some reason. This is not fair for the student or the system as as whole because once you let one student slip through the crack many others will start to follow. Next thing you know there are people dropping out of school and people going out in the real world when they clearly are not ready to handle the hardship of the real world. So what UNC was unethical and immoral for them considering they disobeyed UNC mission statement "Our mission is to serve as a center for research, scholarship, and creativity and to teach a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to become the next generation of leaders." They are not creating a new generation of leader. They also are not creating a place that provides a midway point for people to be creativity, do research, and graduate.
I think that after reading this article, UNC should no longer be considered an "elite academic school". These athletes, coaches, administration and possibly professors should be ashamed of themselves. Obviously, there are some athletes who slip through the cracks and get a favorable academic schedule, but the amount of athletes that received this treatment is remarkable. Top athletes are regularly given special treatment, is it right? No, but it is accepted and generally public knowledge. The fact that UNC let so many athletes "pass" through school is crazy.
"With lux, libertas — light and liberty — as its founding principles, the University has charted a bold course of leading change to improve society and to help solve the world’s greatest problems." This is the schools mission statement. UNC may have a plan to solve the world's greatest problems, but they are creating and adding to one of the biggest problems in NCAA history.
Jensen you hit it right on the head. The university has taken a toll in terms of credibility they have for academic prowess. And everyone involved knew what they were doing was wrong, yet they continued maybe to get top recuits, or more athletic focus. How many other schools get away with the same thing? That question remains and always will. School everywhere are getting away with the same thing: Academic fraudulence.
From reading this article I was really disturbed by this. For years growing up, as a Buckeyes fan, I respected UNC well when it came to the sports programs that it had and the academics that they had along with it. But its terrible that such a large number of students got away with an easy A or pass by basically putting any or no effort at all in it to stay eligible. I find it unfair mainly because a majority of other schools and students have to work there tails off in order to make a great grade for certain courses and to also work hard in the sport that they are participating in. From this view it makes me look at TMC as the king of the hill while I look at UNC as a couch potato, if you catch my drift. And the sad part is that a lot of those students graduated with basically "false credits" too.
The article regarding UNC does not shock me at all. I experienced classes at the University of Toledo that were referred to by athletic staff as "GPA Boosters" not only for me as an individual but also for the team average. These classes were given generic titles such as "managing diversity in the work place" and "critical thinking". Athletes were registered to take these classes and nearly guaranteed to receive an "A" in the class. These classes did little to prepare me for my major and were "fluff" classes. As a preferred walk-on, these classes came out of my pocket.
It is common to see Division I student/athletes who declare a "general studies" major or in UNC's case "African Studies". Majors that are extremely broad or extremely narrow and present little promise to the future career if athletics doesn't work out.
The example with Dartmouth is certainly notable but I do not find it nearly as egregious as what occurred at UNC. The former describes students cheating on quizzes by taking advantage of the technology to have their friends take it for them while the latter describes an institutional structure allowing students to receive credits and even degrees without putting in any effort. What UNC did I think will cast a shadow over the totality of the institution and can even lead to perhaps unwarranted circumspection about the legitimacy of the degree of any recent alumnus/a of the institution. This is especially remarkable given the strength of the academic programs at UNC which was even heralded by our author to be one of the few bastions where emphasis on Division I athletics need not encroach on academic programs.
Unfortunately, as was mentioned in class, this problem is hardly localized at UNC—potentially it may not be as systemic or institutional at other schools as it was there. However, I think that if anything UNC is unlucky to have been the one who was discovered first before any of its competitors. Obviously, this is a serious problem, but I would be surprised if this matter is resolved in the near future. College athletics has become such an industry at the Division I and even Division II level that it functions almost like a minor league for professional sports and that it easily comes at the expense of the academic program. Only with a recognition that institutions of higher learning have the arguably sole purpose of educating their students and contributing to the community through such educational programs, which as Simon noted does not necessarily preclude athletic participation, will these scandals—of which I am sure this is not just the first nor the last—subside.
The article on UNC taking fake classes does not surprise me. What surprises me they got caught. I think this or giving to athletics at DI schools happens more than we think. I've played with and against some DI players, and I know some are not very “book smart.” I don’t think it’s fair to the other students or to the athletes, but I know it happens. Players are used for one purpose and that’s to make money for the school. I also believe that the coach at UNC and everyone at the top knew this was going on. Someone had to tell Deborah Crowder to do this.
I agree with Jesse, this is mind boggling to see how they felt this was the best option for the players. I feel like it really reflects on the individuals involved, and the university as a whole. How could these administrators and advisors feel like letting these kids pass through fake classes was helping them? Clearly there is no interest personally in these kids, as long as they're here for four years on the team we can discard them afterwards, not make sure we help them with the resources that are given. Student athletes are expected to go above and beyond the average student, but by not taking classes and just practicing they are no better than the average student, just a different subject. If I were employing anyone on that list, I would immediately fire them, it shows their lack of character and work ethic.
This scandal is baffling to think about. This goes to show that big universities are just using their athletes for the good of the college. By keeping the athletes in the game they are able to continue to win games and bring in money. I think it would be really interesting to see out of the 46%, how many were starters or usually got playing time. If eligability was going to keep starter off the court or field that could potentially change the outcome of the game and in return lose profit. I also find it hard to believe that this scandal included more than just the one professor. How an academic counselor could include themselves in such a scandal is hard to believe. I also would like to think that coaches at the university are probably to blame as well. These coaches are around the kids more than anyone else and they surely knew about these fake classes. This scandal is nothing more than immoral and unethical.
I am not all that shocked that this would happen at a university like UNC. I wouldn't be surprised if other big colleges are doing this too and i believe that it happens a lot. It's just surprising that they got caught. They do it because they want there athletes to be eligible to play because they know that these athletes are most likely not going to go to class, so they have them take fake classes that give them credits.
The fact that we hear about things like this every year is starting to lose its "shock". I don't get surorised by this anymore and I have no doubt that this is happening way more than what we hear about. why would schools wanna lose out of have athletes play at games when the school is making money. if they have a standout on the team and that person is bring and extra couple thousand fans then how could they lose out on that money. its sad because these athletes are being taken advantage of, they aren't getting a real college education they'll be able to use 15 years from now, but instead they are just seen as moving parts of a business.
After reading this article I am truly amazed and speechless. How can a superior university such as North Carolina get away with allowing their student athletes to take fake classes? The article stated that more than 3,100 students were enrolled in and received credit for these fake classes. Just about half of these students were athletes. Most of these classes were created and graded by a single employee by the name of Deborah Crowder. What she did was morally and ethically unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteMy question is did other professors know about this? I mean that had to have known something fishy was going on. Why didn't they do anything about it?
DeleteHow can Deborah Crowder think what she is doing is right or helps the athlete?
DeleteAfter reading this article, I must say I am completely shocked. How could a school allow this to happen? And why? I understand that D1 athletes are under a lot of stress and pressure, but setting up fake classes ins't the answer. It just goes to show that schools and athletic programs just use their players. They don't necessarily care how the students do in school, only how they perform athletically. And for them to be able to perform in their sports ,they need to just do well enough in school. How sad is that. Isn't college where you go to get a degree? Or is now becoming a source for sports? In my opinion, it brings about a good question that we've previously discussed. Should sports and school be separated? In this situation, I think if they were separated...all this would be non existent.
ReplyDeleteThis whole scenario makes me wonder about the professors and people hired at UNC. Do they really have the moral and ethical requirements needed to be at a university? I just don't understand. If students think its okay to go about life like this (just getting through and not trying)..then what will our society come to? I honestly don't think UNC is the only school that's done this. So how many students have cheated their way through college? How many actually earning degrees that they actually deserved? Kinda scary if you think about it. There may be people out there in professions that they really shouldn't be in. If that makes sense. I just still can't get over this article. It makes me outraged. I honestly just do not understand how people think this is okay and how professors can play a part.
I agree with Nicci, i just do not see how people see that this is the right way to handle the situation. I can personally think of many other ways to help them keep their grades up but with out breaking the rules. It just that in division 1 they do not rely on the academics but the athletics and keeping them eligible.
DeleteFirst off Go UK, and secondly I cannot believe a university with as high as a status of UNC could allow something like this to happen. 3,100 students, 46% of which were athletes, took these phantom classes. I forget what the exact number of students we have at TMC, I think 2000 but the number of students that took these classes almost doubled the number of students enrolled here at TMC! This is just shocking and to think that his occurred over almost a 20 year period...basically since I was born this scandal has been occurring. I agree with Nicci, on the fact that UNC is most likely not the only school to be doing such actions. It casts a shade of doubt on BIG Universities, no longer are they an institution dedicated to the advancement of the minds which they allow into their schools but a business which just wants your money. Now not to say that they are like this but when it comes to people who can help the university make money they are likely to help that individual in any way possible. The commercialization of college. This is why I believe small colleges like TMC are better colleges to LEARN at.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nick. This is a prime example of commercialization of a college. Students are just money. It's sad. That's also why I agree that smaller colleges are better. Smaller colleges want you to learn and be prepared for the real world.
DeleteYou are right Nick. The commercialization of sports doesn't have the affect it does at the DI level compared to the DIII level. Im glad we are not directly affected by athletics making significant amounts of money for the school and it is academically based.
DeleteThis is a huge scandal. Its hard to say that the administration, athletic directors and coaches didnt know about this and i strongly believe they did. How could you let this happen? I bet most of those athletes that took the fake classes didnt move onto the professional level. So how do you value their education and should they be stripped of their degrees? I say yes. Everyone else is busting ass to get a degree and they just spit all over it by creating fake classes so these athletes can indulge in a care free academic atmosphere. Its downright sad and UNC should be, in my opinion, barred from athletic competition for a reasonable amount of time. That seems fair to me. You can;t just move around academics and put athletics over it. I was shocked that it was a prestigious university like UNC, and know i don't see them as so prestigous anymore. I bet every single coach knew what was going on but yet they value the athletic side of things more. There needs to be punishment given to the programs involved in the university. However, I don't think the NCAA will issue any real punishment because they make most of their profit from athletics. Just think all the other schools that do this around the NCAA. how many "tutors" simply do all the athletes homework for a simple autograph? Its scary to think about and morally wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, UNC has lost a lot of respect from many people across the country. I feel that past graduates now have a blemish on there diplomas. Even if it is a student that was not an athlete. I agree with Jake that the penalty should be what is known as the death penalty, where the school cannot compete in collegiate competition for a certain amount of time. The NCAA should step up and do this, but will they? No they will not punish them that bad due to the amount of money that is made off of UNC sports. The school is known world wide and NCAA will not interfere with filling there pockets full of money. The NCAA as an organization is very corrupt, and this case just shows a part of what we do not know about.
DeleteI agree with you Pat. I do not think the NCAA will put a punishment on UNC just because of the revenue they generate. This will blemish the academic credibility of the institution.
DeleteThis entire situation is somewhat unbelievable, to stoop so low when there are numerous other LEGAL options which could have helped keep struggling athletes "afloat". The athletes could have been assigned tutors, they could have been enrolled in the easiest classes, they could have taken online classes and had another student do their work for crying out loud. But to entirely make up a class and give students grades with no work at all to back them up is insane. I have a hard time believing upper level employees had no clue this was going on. For something this drastic to take place for multiple years there would have at least been signs that they decided to ignore. I believe and championships or records held by any of the athletes enrolled in these fake classes should be revoked by the NCAA, and serious steps should be taken to ensure a scandal of this level never occurs again.
ReplyDeleteI think the UNC scandal is ridiculous. The fact that so many people thought that this was okay to do for the athletes. In reality, they have already had people cut some corners for them witch does not make it right but the fact that teachers are allowed to come away with letting the students just pass though for some reason. This is not fair for the student or the system as as whole because once you let one student slip through the crack many others will start to follow. Next thing you know there are people dropping out of school and people going out in the real world when they clearly are not ready to handle the hardship of the real world. So what UNC was unethical and immoral for them considering they disobeyed UNC mission statement "Our mission is to serve as a center for research, scholarship, and creativity and to teach a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to become the next generation of leaders." They are not creating a new generation of leader. They also are not creating a place that provides a midway point for people to be creativity, do research, and graduate.
ReplyDeleteI think that after reading this article, UNC should no longer be considered an "elite academic school". These athletes, coaches, administration and possibly professors should be ashamed of themselves. Obviously, there are some athletes who slip through the cracks and get a favorable academic schedule, but the amount of athletes that received this treatment is remarkable. Top athletes are regularly given special treatment, is it right? No, but it is accepted and generally public knowledge. The fact that UNC let so many athletes "pass" through school is crazy.
ReplyDelete"With lux, libertas — light and liberty — as its founding principles, the University has charted a bold course of leading change to improve society and to help solve the world’s greatest problems." This is the schools mission statement. UNC may have a plan to solve the world's greatest problems, but they are creating and adding to one of the biggest problems in NCAA history.
Jensen you hit it right on the head. The university has taken a toll in terms of credibility they have for academic prowess. And everyone involved knew what they were doing was wrong, yet they continued maybe to get top recuits, or more athletic focus. How many other schools get away with the same thing? That question remains and always will. School everywhere are getting away with the same thing: Academic fraudulence.
DeleteFrom reading this article I was really disturbed by this. For years growing up, as a Buckeyes fan, I respected UNC well when it came to the sports programs that it had and the academics that they had along with it. But its terrible that such a large number of students got away with an easy A or pass by basically putting any or no effort at all in it to stay eligible. I find it unfair mainly because a majority of other schools and students have to work there tails off in order to make a great grade for certain courses and to also work hard in the sport that they are participating in. From this view it makes me look at TMC as the king of the hill while I look at UNC as a couch potato, if you catch my drift. And the sad part is that a lot of those students graduated with basically "false credits" too.
ReplyDeleteThe article regarding UNC does not shock me at all. I experienced classes at the University of Toledo that were referred to by athletic staff as "GPA Boosters" not only for me as an individual but also for the team average. These classes were given generic titles such as "managing diversity in the work place" and "critical thinking". Athletes were registered to take these classes and nearly guaranteed to receive an "A" in the class. These classes did little to prepare me for my major and were "fluff" classes. As a preferred walk-on, these classes came out of my pocket.
ReplyDeleteIt is common to see Division I student/athletes who declare a "general studies" major or in UNC's case "African Studies". Majors that are extremely broad or extremely narrow and present little promise to the future career if athletics doesn't work out.
The example with Dartmouth is certainly notable but I do not find it nearly as egregious as what occurred at UNC. The former describes students cheating on quizzes by taking advantage of the technology to have their friends take it for them while the latter describes an institutional structure allowing students to receive credits and even degrees without putting in any effort. What UNC did I think will cast a shadow over the totality of the institution and can even lead to perhaps unwarranted circumspection about the legitimacy of the degree of any recent alumnus/a of the institution. This is especially remarkable given the strength of the academic programs at UNC which was even heralded by our author to be one of the few bastions where emphasis on Division I athletics need not encroach on academic programs.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, as was mentioned in class, this problem is hardly localized at UNC—potentially it may not be as systemic or institutional at other schools as it was there. However, I think that if anything UNC is unlucky to have been the one who was discovered first before any of its competitors. Obviously, this is a serious problem, but I would be surprised if this matter is resolved in the near future. College athletics has become such an industry at the Division I and even Division II level that it functions almost like a minor league for professional sports and that it easily comes at the expense of the academic program. Only with a recognition that institutions of higher learning have the arguably sole purpose of educating their students and contributing to the community through such educational programs, which as Simon noted does not necessarily preclude athletic participation, will these scandals—of which I am sure this is not just the first nor the last—subside.
The article on UNC taking fake classes does not surprise me. What surprises me they got caught. I think this or giving to athletics at DI schools happens more than we think. I've played with and against some DI players, and I know some are not very “book smart.” I don’t think it’s fair to the other students or to the athletes, but I know it happens. Players are used for one purpose and that’s to make money for the school. I also believe that the coach at UNC and everyone at the top knew this was going on. Someone had to tell Deborah Crowder to do this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jesse, this is mind boggling to see how they felt this was the best option for the players. I feel like it really reflects on the individuals involved, and the university as a whole. How could these administrators and advisors feel like letting these kids pass through fake classes was helping them? Clearly there is no interest personally in these kids, as long as they're here for four years on the team we can discard them afterwards, not make sure we help them with the resources that are given. Student athletes are expected to go above and beyond the average student, but by not taking classes and just practicing they are no better than the average student, just a different subject. If I were employing anyone on that list, I would immediately fire them, it shows their lack of character and work ethic.
ReplyDeleteThis scandal is baffling to think about. This goes to show that big universities are just using their athletes for the good of the college. By keeping the athletes in the game they are able to continue to win games and bring in money. I think it would be really interesting to see out of the 46%, how many were starters or usually got playing time. If eligability was going to keep starter off the court or field that could potentially change the outcome of the game and in return lose profit. I also find it hard to believe that this scandal included more than just the one professor. How an academic counselor could include themselves in such a scandal is hard to believe. I also would like to think that coaches at the university are probably to blame as well. These coaches are around the kids more than anyone else and they surely knew about these fake classes. This scandal is nothing more than immoral and unethical.
ReplyDeleteI am not all that shocked that this would happen at a university like UNC. I wouldn't be surprised if other big colleges are doing this too and i believe that it happens a lot. It's just surprising that they got caught. They do it because they want there athletes to be eligible to play because they know that these athletes are most likely not going to go to class, so they have them take fake classes that give them credits.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that we hear about things like this every year is starting to lose its "shock". I don't get surorised by this anymore and I have no doubt that this is happening way more than what we hear about. why would schools wanna lose out of have athletes play at games when the school is making money. if they have a standout on the team and that person is bring and extra couple thousand fans then how could they lose out on that money. its sad because these athletes are being taken advantage of, they aren't getting a real college education they'll be able to use 15 years from now, but instead they are just seen as moving parts of a business.
ReplyDelete