Academic scandal may lead to criminal charges

Although the UNC-system Board of Governors closed its investigation of UNC-CH’s academic misconduct last month, criminal charges could soon be the latest issue for leaders to address in the ongoing review of the scandal.

Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall will meet with state investigators March 12 to discuss the potential of pursuing criminal charges in the case.

In its final report, the UNC Board of Governors Academic Review Panel attributed the misconduct to the former Department of African and Afro-American Studies chairman Julius Nyang’oro and administrator Deborah Crowder.

The report concluded that athletics played no role in the scandal, though athletes might have been advised to take the courses.

Joni Worthington, spokeswoman for the UNC system, said UNC-CH contacted the State Bureau of Investigation in May 2012 to ask for assistance in reviewing whether or not there had been any criminal activity.

“The SBI had at its disposal options for securing information and cooperation as an investigative unit that neither the Board of Governors nor the campus have,” she said.

Former N.C. Gov. Jim Martin, who conducted an independent review of the University’s academic records, said in an interview that the SBI has the ability to put individuals under oath and inspect bank accounts.

Martin’s report found irregular courses dating back to 1997 and evidence of unauthorized grade changes.

If administrators were compensated for forging signatures, they could be charged with a crime, he said.

“If someone signed someone else’s name without authority, that would be a violation of the law only if they received something of value,” he said.

Woodall said there might be charges announced after the March 12 meeting.

“I’m not going to say anything until they’ve completed their investigation,” he said.

Board member Louis Bissette said the panel reviewed actions taken by the campus after the scandal and determined how similar problems could be prevented in the future.

“We think that all of the new processes and structures that the campus has instituted will make it very difficult for something like this to happen again,” he said.

Worthington said the board will determine if further action is needed once the SBI investigation is concluded.

“If additional steps by the Board of Governors are warranted at that time, they will address it appropriately,” she said.

Bissette said he is confident that the panel has carried out its charge.

“This has been a terrible thing, but at some point it has to end and the University has to move on,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.