KNS: UT athletics board should reopen its meetings to public

#1
golfballs

golfballs

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#1
Editorial: UT athletics board should reopen its meetings to public » Knoxville News Sentinel

The University of Tennessee’s Athletics Department is not so far removed from an NCAA investigation and a million-dollar budget deficit that it can thumb its nose at the public about what it is up to.

Yet that appears to be the position of the UT Athletics Board, which has chosen to deny the public access to its meetings, has stopped keeping minutes and has not provided written reports or recommendations to the athletics director.

Last year, the board met three times and discussed such topics as NCAA violations, an athletics budget of about $100 million and the academic performance of the school’s 500 student-athletes. The 18-member board — reduced last year from 41 members — held these meetings with no public notice or scrutiny.

On Wednesday the board denied reporters entry to its first meeting of this year. The board had included the media at its meetings since 1990, but the chancellor, athletics director and board chair decided last year to close the gatherings.

Thus, the athletic system of the state’s flagship university, a Division I program with 18 athletic teams, is saying that it doesn’t need to make its deliberations and issues known to its very loyal following: Just buy those tickets and make those big yearly donations — and don’t ask questions.
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Discuss.
 
#5
#5
KNS = Bu**hurt media. Going to have to actually do a little work if they want a story now.

OTOH, when you allow the State in charge of "education", then what else would you suspect besides cover-up, stonewalling, and an entire culture of manipulation and corruption. That's what happens when one group is in charge of making decisions with someone else's money.

Just my $.02 to start this beautiful day.
 
#6
#6
Personally as a former VASF donor and still season ticket owner for both Football and Basketball, I have tried to vote with my wallet about the ineptness of the UT Administration in particular Dr. Cheeks. I don't have to regurgitate the revolving Presidency or the plundering of Athletic funds for General Administration purposes even though we were I believe the only school in the SEC to plunder athletic funds. Until Cheeks is ousted we will continue to get the middle finger. I have found no evidence that Cheeks has UT's best interest at heart when it comes to compatibility between Athletics and educational administration matters. Cheeks wants the money generated but has no intentions regarding making us competitive athletically.
 
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#7
#7
Its hard to say if this violates Tennessee Sunshine Law

That law is fairly broad and it does apply to Board of Education meetings

If it does apply, then the law requires them to keep minutes and it must be open to the public

This then would make the minutes available to the public through the Open Records Act

I would at least push for an explanation for why its not open. If the explanation was BS, then take them to court
 
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#8
#8
UT athletics has always operated with little accountability. These meetings should be open as should all ad records.
 
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#9
#9
I'm not a big fan of the media since they are usually left wing & lie but I don't think 18 people need to be sneaking around doing things in secret that affect so many people. They need to be accountable, especially after the train wreck our athletic dept has been the last 6-8 years!
 
#11
#11
I don't see any need for oversight, since our athletic programs have been performing so well and really living up to all the money invested in them.

...oh, wait...
 
#12
#12
Two by four, four by nine, it' Tennessee sunshine time:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcnNb7Pnmok[/youtube]
 
#13
#13
damn you Freak don't let the board go down because of your "million-dollar budget deficit that it can thumb its nose at the public about what it is up to"damn mods :p
:hi:
 
#15
#15
I disagree with this article. It sounds like the complaint is really about control. We've hired people to do the job and need to give them freedom to do it without outsiders politicking for their own opinions. This kind of desired control handcuffs leaders from being creative and making needed changes. Changes are needed in every organization in order to go to the next level. They aren't always popular, but if it moves UT athletics forward, then it's the right thing. If it doesn't work, their job can be on the line.
 
#16
#16
ATLVols said:
I disagree with this article. It sounds like the complaint is really about control. We've hired people to do the job and need to give them freedom to do it without outsiders politicking for their own opinions. This kind of desired control handcuffs leaders from being creative and making needed changes. Changes are needed in every organization in order to go to the next level. They aren't always popular, but if it moves UT athletics forward, then it's the right thing. If it doesn't work, their job can be on the line.
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What a load of hooey.
 
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#17
#17
ATLVols said:
I disagree with this article. It sounds like the complaint is really about control. We've hired people to do the job and need to give them freedom to do it without outsiders politicking for their own opinions. This kind of desired control handcuffs leaders from being creative and making needed changes. Changes are needed in every organization in order to go to the next level. They aren't always popular, but if it moves UT athletics forward, then it's the right thing. If it doesn't work, their job can be on the line.
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Without oversight, there is no sight.
One of the most damnable developments
in the eyes of Congressmen/women, politicians,
corporate henchmen/women, cops, and other
persons in positions of influence is the prevalence
and ever smaller sizes of videocameras, They give
irrefutable proof of dirty dealing and deeds. Where there is economic, prestige or other desired advantage, there's human greed and abuse of power.
This has been since ancient times whether you're talking about control of women folks or Wall Street
bilking of fellow Americans and laughing about it.

In the darkness away from scrutiny, roaches, rats, and mice scurry about stealing, polluting, and leaving harmful germs on what's essential to you and your housemates. Then scatter when light invades the dark cloak of night. Without oversight, there is no sight.
 
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#20
#20
Fijivol72 said:
Personally as a former VASF donor and still season ticket owner for both Football and Basketball, I have tried to vote with my wallet about the ineptness of the UT Administration in particular Dr. Cheeks. I don't have to regurgitate the revolving Presidency or the plundering of Athletic funds for General Administration purposes even though we were I believe the only school in the SEC to plunder athletic funds. Until Cheeks is ousted we will continue to get the middle finger. I have found no evidence that Cheeks has UT's best interest at heart when it comes to compatibility between Athletics and educational administration matters. Cheeks wants the money generated but has no intentions regarding making us competitive athletically.
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Exactly. There are just too much evidence that Cheeks is either an enemy of athletics, doesn't understand that revenue crucial for the AD and academics, or he is just incompetent. The evidence includes comments from former coaches about his treachery, keeping Hamilton, hiring Dooley, hiring Kiffin, the way he railroaded Pearl, Charlie Strong's turning down the HC job, allowing the Trey Golden drama get blown out of proportion---on and on.

Some will say that he gets a pass because of whining coaches or others were involved in the disasters, but the totality of all of this on his watch says a lot.

With all of the resources available at UT, the passionate fan base and the winning traditions, there is no excuse for being at the bottom of the barrel in just about all sports other than softball and women's basketball. I believe Hart can turn things around if he gets the support he needs from the administration. We can argue some of the details, but the record speaks for itself on Cheek's watch.
 
#22
#22
ATLVols said:
I disagree with this article. It sounds like the complaint is really about control. We've hired people to do the job and need to give them freedom to do it without outsiders politicking for their own opinions. This kind of desired control handcuffs leaders from being creative and making needed changes. Changes are needed in every organization in order to go to the next level. They aren't always popular, but if it moves UT athletics forward, then it's the right thing. If it doesn't work, their job can be on the line.
Click to expand...

These are government employees dispensing government money. They're in charge of a department that has been deeply dysfunctional for a decade. This is why sunshine laws exist.
 
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