per Randy:
Four professors at the University of Minnesota with expertise on student or athletic conduct or general university policy on Tuesday condemned the bowl game boycott Gophers football players threatened last week.
The players subsequently withdrew the threat to not play in next week’s Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
The professors, speaking at a forum at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, also chastised Gophers coach Tracy Claeys, who last week tweeted his support for the players, saying he had “never been more proud of our kids.”
“It was a terrible thing to say,” said Doug Hartmann, professor of sociology and author of books on sports and race.
“We are not proud of the language of Coach Claeys,” said Christopher Uggen, a professor of sociology and law, and a member of the faculty consultative committee to the university administration.
By contrast, Uggen said that a lot of faculty were proud of the stance that University President Eric Kaler took in the controversy.
http://www.startribune.com/u-professors-criticize-bowl-boycott-threat-and-gopher-coach/407636856/
Go Gophers!!
Professors Hartmann and Uggen do not have to face public criticism of their work or efforts on behalf of the University, even if a particular student would say their lecture or language sucked and they do not agree with their opinions.
If they don't get that the coach supported the students rights to defend, for a fair and impartial hearing process(avoiding the appearance of confirmation bias, being told you are a witness by investigators(leading an individual on for information and at the same time making them one of the accused) and then getting lumped in a group , and to not be pre-judged in the court of public opinion, and have complete disruption of all of their lives then I don't know what to tell these Intellectual high road takers.
Easy for these professors to hide behind their self righteous attitudes and self important statements about what happened when they are not in a position of being criticized, to have their personal lives completely exposed to the general public, and maybe even some things they did in privacy they have not been proud about. I would for once, would like all of these blowhards making public statements they have limited knowledge of evidence from both sides, again fairness) to have to be the professional advocate and employee responsible for a group of young adults and men, that you expect them as players to put their physical well being in harms way, mind's(brain) and souls at risk for the "free education", essentially mostly free labor for the U, mostly for the hopes and dreams of the 1% chance advancing a professional career in sports. Yeah they are choices student athletes make, but they come with considerable risk to physical and mental health well being. The biggest offender, and user and abuser of labor laws is the non-profit NFL for using colleges and student athletes at all levels of football as essentially their minor leagues of sports.
Student athletes do not enjoy the freedoms of most other students have, even if they have some schooling, housing, meals and books paid for. Most students do not have the time constraints and all of the other aspects of having a full day of being busy from the time you get up until you nearly go to bed. That and most students have the freedom to earn an income while they attend the University.
As a member of the Big 10 conference and a member playing the silly game of football the University shares in huge sums of money from all of the other member schools.
Glorify all of the "free education "aspect you want, but University's use these guys in D1 as money makers(especially bowl games and postseason play) even their likeness and names for video games, marketing of memorabilia, like they are professional athletes, and big time recruiting tools for fans, students and donors and the general public alike. The University's get rewarded with a huge sums of money, and a considerable amount of revenue on the small investments they make in "student athletes".
These professors should have to have had to be the Supervisors, the public face of the program on the hot seat, the only advocate in defending the entire group of players(not just the publicly accused, who have not had a fair hearing against the judgements, accusations and conclusions of administrators especially this EoAA group), and be in the leadership position with all of this adversity and controversy in the first place.
I would like one of these professors popping off have to step into the shoes, of having to be a parent figure and responsible for 105 people plus the well being of their employees in the public spot light that Claeys and coaches alike have to. He get's handsomely rewarded for it, but this high horse professionals do not even have to put up with 10% of what this head coach has to deal with on a daily basis. But again, get on the High horse and act like you are holding yourself to a higher and better moral standard. Please again pat yourselves on the back Professors Uggen and Hartmann, take a bow, you own better opinions and ethics then the rest of us I guess.
Kaler may think he has been perfect as the boss and is protecting all students, but to me he has singled out some students in favor of others. That and he has tried the University's ability to make money off the bowl game and for his own personal enjoyment and vacation.
I don't like it when Presidents do not act with impartiality in these conduct violation situations, especially when the evidence in the Title IX report has admitted confirmation bias, and has "lead" witnesses (mislead any consequence that could result from their testimony as a witness) with questions that a professional investigator would not have done. Even the witnesses should have been advised to their right of counsel in this situation and to not answer questions(Not all parties were advised of that right). Of course none of that would have resulted in the Title IX investigators getting what they wanted and coming to the conclusions they were "preordained" to conclude. But hey Student code of conduct investigations and title IX investigations don't require the same legal rights and protections I guess. But yeah they are just animals and pigs, and let's roast them all in the court of public opinion. The administrators should have requested campus police, former judges, someone with formal investigative backgrounds, licenses or certifications, without bias be present during all witness questioning. When something of this sensitive nature of the topic occurs, best to cover all bases and not open yourself up to liability, even if you disagree with the conduct that occurred on that night.
