Rawlings to lead panel on athletics and academics

Almost four months after the Martin Report was released, Chancellor Holden Thorp has finally announced the panel that will lead a discussion on the balance of academics and athletics at the University.

Thorp revealed on Monday a five-member panel of outside leaders in higher education and athletics — led by Hunter Rawlings, president of the Association of American Universities — who will speak April 19.

Thorp originally said public discussions would start right after the Martin Report was released, and faculty have been vocal in questioning when they would begin.

The panel’s goal is to present recommendations to improve the relationship between athletics and academics at UNC, which has been grappling with a related scandal.

The other four panel members are James Delany, commissioner of the Big 10 Conference; Bob Malekoff, associate professor and sport studies department chairman at Guilford College; Amy Perko, executive director of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics; and Patricia Timmons-Goodson, former associate justice of the N.C. Supreme Court.

Thorp has invited five additional speakers — including ESPN broadcaster Jay Bilas — to participate in the conversation, which will be held at the Carolina Inn.

Karen Moon, director of UNC News Services, said the University will pay for speakers’ travel expenses.

Malekoff said he has studied the intersection of athletics and academics for many years.

“Looking at this whole idea of ways that athletics, academics and student life can be integrated — really with the goal of providing as positive an educational experience as you can for students who are participating.”

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, a speaker, said the event is an opportunity to promote new approaches to resolving tension between athletics and education.

“We’ve talked since I’ve been here about openness and dialogue and how UNC can not only be a participant in a national discussion, but help lead and shape some of the future of college athletics,” he said.

He said he will be speaking about where UNC is in regards to athletics and education, and how it has gotten to that point.

“That would include somewhat of a timeline history of change,” he said. “And how we tried to create competitive equity through limiting scholarships and coaching positions, and having broad-based programs.”

Faculty Athletics Committee Chairwoman Joy Renner, also a speaker, will be discussing the committee’s activities in the past year.

Renner said she hopes the panel will help develop a clearer philosophy regarding UNC’s athletics.

Malekoff said the diversity of the panel members’ backgrounds will be key in understanding the issues and making recommendations.

“The meeting on the 19th will be interesting both from the standpoint of how it might help our panel, and also just learning about the issue from different perspectives,” he said.

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