TO THE EDITOR:
In a recent article in The News and Observer (“Deborah Crowder’s Story Could Bring NCAA Investigators to UNC”), reporter Dan Kane gave the impression that I had written that I “suspected (Debbie) Crowder had overstepped her authority to help athletes in ways that should have been called out by athletic officials.” My views were mischaracterized. Mr. Kane was referring to an essay I wrote over a year ago in an attempt to make sense of the findings of the investigation that was conducted by Deans Hartlyn and Andrews in the spring of 2012. I hope that I would never make charges based merely on something I “suspected.” Further, I do not believe that officials of the athletic entertainment industry have any business “calling out” anyone about problems that their money and influence help create. I couldn’t care less about the NCAA. I do care about the integrity of a community of learning, and I did make some observations about what tends to happen when a university tries to run a minor league franchise on the side. Mr. Kane knows all this. The eighth official investigation of this matter is now in progress. At some point, this particular saga must come to a meaningful conclusion. Then, perhaps, a fresh and courageous attempt to deal with the underlying issues and principles can begin.
Reginald F. Hildebrand
Associate Professor
African, African-American and Diaspora Studies
