With athletic director Dick Baddour’s departure on the horizon, members of the faculty athletics committee know what they want in his replacement.
During the committee’s meeting Tuesday, members outlined several qualities they thought the next athletic director should possess, such as strong leadership and communication skills.
“He definitely needs to understand how athletics fits into academics and enriches that experience in the University,” said committee member Beverly Foster, director of undergraduate programs in the School of Nursing.
Committee member Chris Armitage, a professor in the English department, said his main concern is finding a director who will be respected among the faculty.
“I think there is a lot of skepticism amongst faculty members about what the director does,” Armitage said. “They think that the term student athlete is almost an oxymoron the way it’s being run.”
Another faculty group which focuses on academic support for student athletes is starting a campaign to promote adherence to the honor code among athletes.
The group’s campaign efforts will include hanging posters in all locker rooms with photos of athletes and the message ‘I’m a Tar Heel, and I follow the Honor Code.’
Senior Associate Athletic Director John Blanchard, a committee member and a leader of the academic support group, showed an example of the poster to the committee.
“I’m really excited about this campaign, and I think it will definitely make an impact on our athletes,” Blanchard said.
The University has allowed Baddour to stay under his contract until the athletic director position is filled.
