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This one seems to be a mountain out of a molehill considering the player appears to be Chris Rodgers, but who knows?
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/8950.php
UA probes accusations of favoritism for athlete
Classics professors allege basketball player enrolled without proper prerequisites
By LA MONICA EVERETT-HAYNES
Published: 04.11.2006
The interim head of the University of Arizona's classics department has stepped down amid accusations he gave preferential treatment to a UA basketball player.
UA officials said the school is investigating the claims after a majority of upper-level classics professors signed a letter March 28 indicating their collective "vote of no-confidence" in Alexander Nava.
The professors alleged that Nava allowed the player to enroll in classes without the proper prerequisite courses and that he implored an adjunct instructor not to drop or fail the athlete during the season, although the instructor told the Citizen he was not pressured.
The student isn't named in official documents, but Chris Rodgers is the only player who fits the description stated in the letter: a non-degree-seeking graduate student-athlete enrolled for nine units.
That is the number of units the NCAA requires for student-athletes who want to continue playing after they graduate, said Bill Morgan, compliance director for the athletic department.
The eight professors who signed the letter to College of Humanities Dean Charles Tatum accused Nava of "academic fraud" and having "extraordinarily poor judgment and administrative incompetence."
Tatum wrote in a campus memo yesterday that Nava had resigned from the post, which he held for less than a year.
The Tucson Citizen made several unsuccessful attempts to reach Nava and Rodgers by e-mail and telephone last night.
UA president Peter Likins said Nava, a religious studies professor for six years, has not been removed from the campus.
"This is a long process that won't be solved quickly," Likins said.
"There have been allegations made - and some of them anonymously - and we take them very seriously," he added. "There will be response on those allegations in due course."
Nava had taken over the one-year job - which paid $82,783 annually - while department head Mary Voyatzis was on sabbatical, spokesman Johnny Cruz said.
David Soren, a classics professor, has been named acting head until Voyatzis returns in August.
In the letter, the eight classics professors wrote that Nava had "abused his power without submitting the necessary paperwork to the director of graduate studies in classics."
The unnamed student was enrolled in a six-unit graduate-level independent study course when one to three units is the norm, the letter said.
Faculty members said Nava should have consulted with the department because the student did not have the necessary prerequisite courses.
The course, Classics 599, consists of independent study agreed upon by the student and professor.
It was not clear exactly what the student was studying.
Faculty members said the student also did not meet the prerequisites of the other course, "Greek and Roman Sculpture"- Classics 554.
Marilyn B. Skinner, a classics professor, said she saw an injustice and signed the document.
"This goes beyond anything that is right or fair,'' Skinner said.
"Those who are not athletes do not get this kind of treatment.
"If action was not taken, all of us would be held responsible and this would be perceived by some as an instance of favoritism."
UA athletic director Jim Livengood said he has seen the letter and is following up.
"Any time we get anything, we look into it," Livengood said.
"There is a process involved. Obviously I cannot talk about a student-athlete," he added. "There is a process involved and it is being followed."
Livengood said he gets letters and information about such allegations "very regularly."
It's unclear whether UA would forward any findings to the Pac-10 or NCAA, or whether the matter could lead to penalties.
Associate professor David Christenson said those who signed the letter, as he did, will meet today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with UA's compliance director and Doug Woodard, the faculty athletics representative, to discuss the matter.
Another issue is a March 8 conversation that associate professor Gonda Van Steen said she overheard between Nava and the student's other professor, Jeffrey Spier.
Spier said yesterday he has not met or spoken to the student who was enrolled in his class.
According to Van Steen, Nava told Spier, "Don't drop him, this is a good kid," and that the conversation was loud and disruptive, she said.
"That, to me, shows a complete lack of academic integrity. That, to me, is the biggest shock," said Van Steen, who also signed the letter.
Spier, however, said he did not think Nava was trying to pressure him into keeping the student in his course.
"He didn't tell me to do anything," Spier said.
Nava told him the student was mistakenly enrolled in his course, Spier said.
Spier also said the conversation with Nava left him thinking that the situation was "a mix-up among several people," including those in athletics.
And Spier added he wasn't sure it was a case of favoritism because "anyone could enroll in the class," he said.
Citizen sportswriters John Moredich, Anthony Gimino and Steve Rivera contributed to this article.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/8950.php
UA probes accusations of favoritism for athlete
Classics professors allege basketball player enrolled without proper prerequisites
By LA MONICA EVERETT-HAYNES
Published: 04.11.2006
The interim head of the University of Arizona's classics department has stepped down amid accusations he gave preferential treatment to a UA basketball player.
UA officials said the school is investigating the claims after a majority of upper-level classics professors signed a letter March 28 indicating their collective "vote of no-confidence" in Alexander Nava.
The professors alleged that Nava allowed the player to enroll in classes without the proper prerequisite courses and that he implored an adjunct instructor not to drop or fail the athlete during the season, although the instructor told the Citizen he was not pressured.
The student isn't named in official documents, but Chris Rodgers is the only player who fits the description stated in the letter: a non-degree-seeking graduate student-athlete enrolled for nine units.
That is the number of units the NCAA requires for student-athletes who want to continue playing after they graduate, said Bill Morgan, compliance director for the athletic department.
The eight professors who signed the letter to College of Humanities Dean Charles Tatum accused Nava of "academic fraud" and having "extraordinarily poor judgment and administrative incompetence."
Tatum wrote in a campus memo yesterday that Nava had resigned from the post, which he held for less than a year.
The Tucson Citizen made several unsuccessful attempts to reach Nava and Rodgers by e-mail and telephone last night.
UA president Peter Likins said Nava, a religious studies professor for six years, has not been removed from the campus.
"This is a long process that won't be solved quickly," Likins said.
"There have been allegations made - and some of them anonymously - and we take them very seriously," he added. "There will be response on those allegations in due course."
Nava had taken over the one-year job - which paid $82,783 annually - while department head Mary Voyatzis was on sabbatical, spokesman Johnny Cruz said.
David Soren, a classics professor, has been named acting head until Voyatzis returns in August.
In the letter, the eight classics professors wrote that Nava had "abused his power without submitting the necessary paperwork to the director of graduate studies in classics."
The unnamed student was enrolled in a six-unit graduate-level independent study course when one to three units is the norm, the letter said.
Faculty members said Nava should have consulted with the department because the student did not have the necessary prerequisite courses.
The course, Classics 599, consists of independent study agreed upon by the student and professor.
It was not clear exactly what the student was studying.
Faculty members said the student also did not meet the prerequisites of the other course, "Greek and Roman Sculpture"- Classics 554.
Marilyn B. Skinner, a classics professor, said she saw an injustice and signed the document.
"This goes beyond anything that is right or fair,'' Skinner said.
"Those who are not athletes do not get this kind of treatment.
"If action was not taken, all of us would be held responsible and this would be perceived by some as an instance of favoritism."
UA athletic director Jim Livengood said he has seen the letter and is following up.
"Any time we get anything, we look into it," Livengood said.
"There is a process involved. Obviously I cannot talk about a student-athlete," he added. "There is a process involved and it is being followed."
Livengood said he gets letters and information about such allegations "very regularly."
It's unclear whether UA would forward any findings to the Pac-10 or NCAA, or whether the matter could lead to penalties.
Associate professor David Christenson said those who signed the letter, as he did, will meet today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with UA's compliance director and Doug Woodard, the faculty athletics representative, to discuss the matter.
Another issue is a March 8 conversation that associate professor Gonda Van Steen said she overheard between Nava and the student's other professor, Jeffrey Spier.
Spier said yesterday he has not met or spoken to the student who was enrolled in his class.
According to Van Steen, Nava told Spier, "Don't drop him, this is a good kid," and that the conversation was loud and disruptive, she said.
"That, to me, shows a complete lack of academic integrity. That, to me, is the biggest shock," said Van Steen, who also signed the letter.
Spier, however, said he did not think Nava was trying to pressure him into keeping the student in his course.
"He didn't tell me to do anything," Spier said.
Nava told him the student was mistakenly enrolled in his course, Spier said.
Spier also said the conversation with Nava left him thinking that the situation was "a mix-up among several people," including those in athletics.
And Spier added he wasn't sure it was a case of favoritism because "anyone could enroll in the class," he said.
Citizen sportswriters John Moredich, Anthony Gimino and Steve Rivera contributed to this article.
