Mar. 11, 2005 - 22:41 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

So True

There is a cannibal in the crowd, I made an entry and it was swallowed, disappeared entirely.

Maybe I can make an entry of it tomorrow, too tired tonight to get so light hearted.

Colorado University Follies still hold a big place in our local news. Not that I think our own local Uni is much different than the others in many ways, just a bit more foolish and selfish.

After all the alcoholic accusations and rape allegations and President Betsy Hoffman in trying to circle the Buffalo Wagons saying that the "C" word goes back to Chaucer (which is probably right) and claiming it could be construed as a word of endearment, managed to muddy the waters even more -- and in a way trying to justify the use of that word by the jocks of the school as endearment when it seems to me that is not what the jocks meant when they used that word.

Headlines in the Rocky Mountain News, Legislators want coach fired I myself wonder why he is still in the saddle. The owner of a liquor store which seemed to be used by athletics department to fuel the obtaining likely jocks for the football team and other things such as his "football camp" funded by the "Foundation" and his CYA activities should be enough to encourage him to resign.

The article by Bill Scanlon of the Rocky Mountain News today, in part:

"6 House members say CU should can Barnett

"Six state representatives on Thursday called on the University of Colorado Board of Regents to fire football coach Gary Barnett, who has been at the center of a sex and recruiting scandal at the school for months."

"I'm appalled we're letting coach Gary Barnett be a winner in this no-win situation," Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheatridge, wrote in a letter to the regents. "If we are going to 'clean house,' then let us clean the entire house !" she wrote. Jahn's letter also was signed by Democratic Reps. Betty Boyd, Lakewood; Judy Solano, Brighton; Morgan Carroll, Aurora; Rosemary Marshall, Denver; and Angie Paccione, Fort Collins."

"Pauline Hale, spokesperson for the Boulder campus, issued a statement saying the school is focused on finding a new athletic director and finishing a financial audit. "Therefore, it would be premature to make any personnel decisions regarding Coach Barnett at this time."

"CU President Betsy Hoffman resigned this week, following more than a year of controversy that began with allegations by three female students that they'd been sexually assaulted by football recruits and members of the football team."

"Late last year, CU Athletic Director Dick Tharp resigned under pressure and CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny moved to another CU post."

"A year ago, Barnett was placed on paid administrative leave for critical remarks he made about former place-kicker Katie Hnida, who said she was raped by a team-mate. In May, Hoffman reinstated Barnett, who went on to win Big 12 Coach Of The Year Honors in the fall."

"Later a grand jury report alleged sexual harassment of female trainers within the athletic department."

"Hoffman's resignatiion came with the football recruiting scandal and controversy over professor Ward Churchill showing few signs of abating."

People are kidding themselves if they think Hoffman's departure gives CU a fresh start, Jahn said. "She wasn't the problem," Jahn said. "We can't move on until these issues have been dealt with."

"We cannot be foolish enough to believe having Elizabeth Hoffman step down will solve the problems. There is plenty of blame to go around."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Opinions of mine follow with quotes from the rest of the article.

One of my main ponderings is, just how the heck are regents picked ? What control is there over the qualifications to be a regent ? Looks to me that among the responsibilities of running an educational institute their main activities are covering for the Foundation (mostly Alumni money), the athletic department in order to make CU football look good as possible and CYA for the alcoholic violations attached thereto. Or am I overly cynical ?

It appears to me that the practices that are coming to light right now after several years of publicity probably have been in place for many years. Male Jock Supremacy and approval of whatever they do seems to be a failing of institutions and businesses as well as the military of our country for a long time. Tail-hook scandal, Air Force Academy, corporate pressures all seem to be involved and resistance to change immense.

Some of our legislators have a slightly different slant on things, Quote"House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, said she respects the views of the six who signed the letter but that "it doesn't help that the legislator or the governor tell the Board of Regents how to do their job." "Still, Madden added, "it's incredibly important that the athletic department at CU be a safe environment for any student or employee who gets anywhere near it."

"Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, said the letter, "is a well-intentioned effort, " but, "just like with the Republicans calling on CU to fire Ward Churchill, it's an area where the legislature doesn't have the expertise and doesn't have facts."

"Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton, said he would be reluctant to do "a hatchet job on Gary. I don't have an ax to grind with Gary or with Betsy. But Ward Churchill . . . ."Unquote

So, everybody has an opinion as is their right, yet they all seem to be pushing the offal into someone else's back yard. Nothing concrete yet appears.

One wry chuckle from here is, "In May, Hoffman reinstated Barnett, who went on to win Big 12 Coach of the Year Honors in the fall." Yeah Riiight, makes me wonder just how bad the rest of the country is.

The last two paragraphs carry weight I think.

QUOTE"The National Coalition Against Violent Athletes also called for Barnett's removal Thursday, saying the coach is "the central figure in the rape culture" that it says has been created at CU."

"The NCAVA said Barnett has been an obstacle to the accountability of CU and dragged his heels on revealing information about cash funds from his football camp and other funds."UNQUOTE

I myself can't see how the legislature could step in and make heads roll, but CU is a state University and it would follow in my mind that tax dollars have been being fed to the Uni since way back when. So perhaps the legislature could set up parameters for eligibility of people who wish to be regents, control where tax dollars go, and insist on the integrity of all people who are employees of the state, which everyone up there actually is I think.

So Betsy Hoffman is a victim of the system, perhaps not so innocent but not vicious either.

To my mind the real victims other than the abused ladies are the young folk who go to Uni for a real education and become involved in the huge party atmosphere and Jockularity extant in Boulder.

I would like to see CU be the shining light it once was, I would like to see it make its University Hospital one of the top institutions in the world. Freedom of speech should be guaranteed, but it should be used with ethics, by people who are not flying under false colors such as "part-Indian" or are plagarists. Those types are taking liberties with that term.

Maybe good things will come of this, but perhaps we reluctantly look over our shoulder and say, "You can't go home again," is a phrase that is oh So True . . . . . . . . . .

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