Terri Patraw Blog #1

Terri Patraw: Lies Planted In The Media

Terri Patraw — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:33:20 GMT

I ran across this quote in another article on a high profile lawsuit in Reno. I could not have said it better myself.

"I would be very careful because something said in a (court) filing is not necessarily true," she cautioned. "I would suggest you check your facts."

The one thing I have learned in the past year is that when you are suing UNR the court docket is filled with lies, false evidence, phony documents, false affidavits, and other judicial misconduct.

I am the victim of a conspiracy to defame me in the media by the defense team and their friendly local reporter.

The defense lawyers felt secure making false and defamatory statements under the protection of judicial pleading/hearings. By law, you generally cannot be held liable for what you say in court filings and in the court room.

The defense lawyers knew this so they had a news reporter at my hearings to publish lies in the press.

The reporter knew what she was printing was false:

    1) She was repeatedly told prior to publication that the University's statements were lies and/or
        manufactured evidence;

    2) She was in the court room to see the evidence from my side that exposed the lies. She rarely
        printed any statements from my side that refuted their lies.

The most embarrassing part of this media manipulation was watching this reporter huddle with the defense lawyers giggling and discussing her articles. I am not making this stuff up.

I was also told first hand from the editor at the Reno Gazette Journal that University officials threaten and intimidate them if they publish negative things about the University.

On one occasion two UNR defense lawyers and UNR spokesperson Jane Tors scheduled a meeting with the RGJ editor in an effort to suppress negative coverage of them. By the way, taxpayers paid for that meeting in violation of a state contract.

Athletic Director Cary Groth called the RGJ on multiple occasions regarding my case in an attempt to censor what was printed.

External threats are likely why the Reno Gazette Journal has not printed that my whistleblower hearing was remanded after evidence of perjury, falsification of evidence, false affidavits, and concealment of documents by the UNR defendants; the guilty defendants include Athletic Director Cary Groth and UNR General Counsel Mary Dugan. By the way, taxpayers paid for this misconduct in violation of a state contract too.

You have to wonder what kind of childhood these people must have had to engage in such corrupt and evil practices to conspire to destroy other peoples lives.

As someone said to me: When one cannot find success on their own merits and talent they resort to destroying others who can.

Keep the faith . . . justice will prevail . . .

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Links: Terri Patraw Blog #2

Terri Patraw Blog #3

Terri Patraw: Exposing The Truth Part I

Terri Patraw — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:56:00 GMT

The Defense resorted to their defamatory smear campaign based on lies and manufactured documents.

Here are the cold facts that expose their lies:

Terri Patraw received "commendable" personnel evaluations every year. Thus, she was significantly exceeding goals and objectives.

She had never received a single unsatisfactory mark nor did she have any adverse action in her personnel file. It was proven that Terri Patraw received the highest rating generally awarded coaches.

An overall evaluation of commendable shall be considered "meritorious." NSHE Code, Title 5, Chapter 7.

COMMENDABLE: Successfully met, and in some areas, significantly exceeded established goals and
objectives. Achieved high levels of productivity and competence. UNR/Human Resources.

These personnel evaluations were signed by Terri Patraw's supervisor, the athletic director and the university president.

Terri Patraw: Wide Scale Corruption

Terri Patraw — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:37:00 GMT

A word I have heard too many times in the past 1.5 years . . .

From Dictionary.com

Corrupt:

1.	guilty of dishonest practices, as bribery; lacking integrity; crooked: a corrupt judge.

2.	debased in character; depraved; perverted; wicked; evil: a corrupt society.

3.	made inferior by errors or alterations, as a text.

4.	infected; tainted.

5.	decayed; putrid.

6.	to destroy the integrity of; cause to be dishonest, disloyal, etc., esp. by bribery.

7.	to lower morally; pervert: to corrupt youth.

Most recently I have received quite an education from others on how corrupt our justice system is. The things I have witnessed over the past 1.5 years are unimaginable to the normal person.

We have all met corrupt people. However, to watch a group of corrupt people work together to attempt to destroy your life simply to cover up their own misconduct is something nobody can relate too . . . unless you have lived through it yourself.

There is wide scale corruption permeating my case. The truth will come out and justice will prevail.

Terri Patraw: Colleges Hide Their Inner Workings

Terri Patraw — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:44:00 GMT

College athletics departments routinely invoke a 1974 student-privacy law to conceal information about the inner workings of their sports programs, keeping the public in the dark about violations of NCAA rules governing the $5-billion-a-year enterprise.

"It just goes to show that whatever the rules, cheaters will always find a way around them, especially if the stakes are high. The current system ... long since ceased being collegiate.

What we now see is just a shill for the professional leagues promoted for a largely self serving clique of highly paid coaches, sports administrators, and media elite.

University administrations, which should be keeping a tight rein, actually encourage the abuse. So much for academic 'leadership' and integrity." -- CW

Terri Patraw: A Story That Mirrors Mine

Terri Patraw — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:12:00 GMT

RENO (AP) — A former professional hunter for the U.S. government claims in a whistleblower complaint that he was fired in retaliation for reporting co-workers who illegally shot two mountain lions from an airplane in northeast Nevada.

“This is a blatant case of reprisal,” said Christine Erickson, the staff counsel for the Washington D.C.-based watchdog group for government workers.

Strader of Wells said he reported the incident to his district supervisor in the fall of 2007.

Strader said his supervisor reacted angrily and accused him of making up the story. He said he was told later that aerial gunning crews also had shot three other mountain lions in northeast Nevada.

Violation of the federal Airborne Hunting Act is punishable by up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine.

“We shouldn’t go around as government employees committing felonies in government airplanes,” Strader told the AP.

But if shooting the lions was a bad deal, the cover-up is worse, Strader told AP.

“It’s the old cliche — kill the messenger. They are bending over backward to make me the bad guy.”

The Whistleblower Protection Act forbids discharging a federal employee for disclosing crimes or other waste, fraud or abuse, Erickson said. She said an employer who breaks the law could be fired.

Strader said the men who killed the mountain lions were his friends.

“I thought I would just put a bug in (the supervisor’s) ear to tell these guys not to let it happen again — to put a stop to it,” he said.

He took his concern to state officials in October 2008 and then to the federal agency’s regional office in Denver in December 2008. He said an investigator there asked him if he realized how serious his allegations were, that the two men involved could lose their jobs and that the aerial gunning program in Nevada could be jeopardized.

When no action was taken, he said he reported the incident in February 2009 to an FBI agent, who Strader said referred the case to the USDA’s Office of Inspector General.

Strader said before he complained he got along fine with his supervisors, who he said had put him in charge of a seminar on how to track coyotes at the agency’s annual conference earlier in the year.

“And a few months after that, they can’t get me out of the door fast enough,” he said. “It’s obvious why.”

Terri Patraw: Continuing To Unravel The Vernacular

Terri Patraw — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:34:00 GMT

Continuing a quest to help you unlock the code of the smear campaign.

Disturbing incidents is code for athletic administrators and a coach soliciting student-athletes to write false statements about their former coach. Embarrassing when students are more mature than these supposed leaders.

Disturbing incidents is code for tampering with witnesses; even threatening witnesses to keep their mouth shut and telling them to protect their families.

Disturbing incidents is code for an athletic director retaining a coach who was charged with unethical conduct after he provided false and misleading information pertaining to each NCAA violation he was charged with. A sad reflection of any administrator who supported the retention of this poor role model.

Disturbing incidents is code for a coach buying booze for his student-athletes.

Disturbing incidents is code for an administration directing phony incident reports to be filed in an effort to intimidate those who file lawsuits.

Disturbing incidents is code for two assistant coaches talking about "trying to get a former employee ban from campus."

Disturbing incidents is code for an administration directing employees to report back and write a synopsis about any interaction they have with a plaintiff in a lawsuit.

Disturbing incidents is code for manufacturing evidence against a whistleblower.

Disturbing incidents is code for lawyers creating a fraudulent subpoena with a phony defendant's name; All in the interest of creating an appearance of realism to manufactured documents.

Disturbing incidents is code for lying to the NCAA.

Disturbing incidents is code for lying to the community through the use of the Reno Gazette Journal.

Disturbing incidents is code for lying to the Judge.

Disturbing incidents is code for lying in nearly every brief filed in the court.

Disturbing incidents is code for coordinating with a reporter to plant lies in the media about a plaintiff who has the courage to stand up to public corruption.

Disturbing incidents is code for an athletic director getting caught lying under oath over and over.

Disturbing incidents is code for an administrator falsely accusing someone of breaking into her car. God help her and her children...she has sold her soul to the politically corrupt.

Disturbing incidents is code for making oneself a defendant in a criminal probe (citizen convened Grand Jury on Corruption at an Institution of Higher Learning). You cannot run from criminal charges.

Terri Patraw: A Dose Of Truth

Terri Patraw — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:36:00 GMT

"The Court overlooked significant facts ... ," Dickerson said Wednesday. He said Athletic Director Cary Groth admitted the termination in August 2007 was tied to Patraw reporting Title IX violations ensuring equal treatment of men's and women's sports.

"On that alone, the case should have gone to the jury. We predict this decision will be reversed quickly and Terri will return for trial within the year," he said.

Terri Patraw: As We Move Along

Terri Patraw — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:19:00 GMT

As we move along over the next few months I thought I would try to help you unlock the code of the smear campaign against me.

In the defense teams' vernacular, stalking is code for the athletic department's concealment of NCAA violations. There was no stalking involved here. But there was a cover-up of NCAA violations.

The NCAA is investigating UNR for its failure to report NCAA violations.

See Blog #2 for an update on the NCAA investigation.

See Blog #3 for answers to a few questions that have been tossed my way.

You Would Not Believe Me If I Told You

Terri Patraw — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:56:00 GMT

You would not believe the dark side of this lawsuit if I told you. More stunning revelations roll in by the day. The perjury, falsification of evidence, witness tampering, and political interference does not end.

Do not believe anything you read in the paper or online. Those are calculated and staged events to defame and intimidate me.

I am not asking you to believe me either. The truth will be revealed in a Court room for a jury to decide. I am looking forward to that day. The defense team is not.

That is why they have gone to unbelievable and illegal lengths in an attempt to sabotage my case.

The truth will be revealed in a book. All the bad actors will not be able to hide behind their organized corruption.

Keep the faith. Much more coming in the next few days...

Same Dirty Tactics, Different University

Terri Patraw — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:13:00 GMT

Two coaches at Florida Gulf Coast complained about gender inequities in the athletic department. Here is a quick excerpt from their story:

The coaches sued the University for retaliation for complaining about gender inequality in violation of Title IX.

When the media began questioning the university about the allegations the school released the coaches personnel files, including the allegedly false performance reviews, to the public.

Plaintiffs also alleged defamation for releasing false information to the public.

The university claimed one of the coaches was having an inappropriate relationship with a student manager.

The parties settled before trial for $3.4 million.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

These universities use the same dirty tricks to intimidate and defame coaches who have the courage to stand up to misconduct in their athletics departments. What a disgusting display of leadership in higher education.

The truth will come out in the end . . . a book is being written . . . those who lied, manufactured evidence, and tampered with witnesses can run . . . but will not be able to hide from their misconduct.

Could Not Have Said It Better Myself...

Terri Patraw — Sat, 09 May 2009 20:05:00 GMT

I received this message this morning. This individual hit it right on the nose...

Come on, people. Wake up and smell the coffee. In order to make their case, UNR's attorney had to resort to character assassination because they didn't have a strong enough case, based on the evidence and testimony presented. Typical!

Whistleblower Decision Remanded

Terri Patraw — Sat, 09 May 2009 04:58:00 GMT

The whistleblower decision (from last year) was remanded after evidence of perjury, falsification of evidence and concealment of documents by the defendants was presented to the District Court Judge.

This means there is no decision on the matter at this time. To be continued.

Protecting Corruption Or Education?

Terri Patraw — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:07:00 GMT

I received this message today...

I have questions (as a taxpayer) for you about the UNR diminished budget, the crises regarding the handling of that budget, and the resulting negative impact on students' education:

1) Where is UNR getting the money to continue to pay (approximately $100,000 per month) to outside law firms in all the litigation they are embroiled in?

2) Where is UNR getting the money to pay Kent Robison, the lead attorney in your lawsuit?

3) Why doesn't UNR close its legal counsel office and save Nevada taxpayers approximately 1 million in annual salaries and benefits for its minor league lawyers?

You would agree with me that it is appropriate to close an office that obviously is incapable of defending the very violations it created. This is important, especially when UNR has been continuously closing many academic programs for almost a year. This will certainly undermine students' learning and their ability to compete for job opportunities following their graduation.

UNR has a bevy of lawyers on payroll. Despite this, they have to hire outside lawyers to cover up their corruption.

Is UNR a university focused on protecting corruption or education?

Oh The Lies And Manipulation

Terri Patraw — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:03:00 GMT

You would not believe me if I told you...Fraud, Fraud, and more Fraud. They lie in the Court room because they think they are protected by defamation there.

The truth will come out...more to come in a day or so.

Be sure to read the article below on falsification of evidence by Arizona State University.

Did I mention Falsification of Evidence?

I am sorry...did I mention Falsification of Evidence?

Psssttt...I have never had a relationship with a female in my life. Oh, but desperate times call for desperate measures. They will go to any length to smear me with lies.

One last desperate act to break me....not going to happen...they have played their final desperate juvenile card and it did not work...

The same lawyers defending the Nevada System of Higher Education in my case are currently under judicial review in Federal Court for falsification of evidence, perjury, and subornation of perjury in other UNR lawsuits.

By the way, the Grand Jury on Public Corruption at an Institution of Higher Learning is moving forward. More on this in the coming days. Falsification of Evidence, manufacturing of evidence, perjury, and other criminal misconduct will be on display at that hearing.

University Officials Caught Falsifying Evidence?

Terri Patraw — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:23:00 GMT

Why does this not surprise me? Hmmm....

A settlement ended a civil lawsuit filed in 2006 by the former student, identified as "J.K." in court records, against Arizona State, the Arizona Board of Regents, then-head football coach Dirk Koetter and Darnel Henderson, the player who allegedly raped her. The suit claimed the university had placed her in a dangerous position, which led to the rape.

The settlement comes after the victim and her attorneys completed an exhaustive investigation of ASU's actions before and after the rape, an investigation that her attorneys say revealed . . . deletions of important e-mails, destruction of critical documents and false testimony.

According to the investigation by the victim's attorneys, ASU had destroyed records of Henderson's misconduct during the Summer Bridge program, and significant e-mails had been deleted even though ASU knew the victim was about to file suit. Kerr, the lead attorney for the victim, discovered some of the missing e-mails.

In one, Rippon, the school's director of academic success, wrote that the women who had complained about Henderson's behavior during the Summer Bridge program were "women I trust completely." But Rippon later testified under oath in a deposition that they were women with "attitude" who had "issues with all men."

Another e-mail, discovered just before the settlement was reached, was from one of the women who had complained about Henderson. It stated, "I don't want to get raped in college and that is what Darnel [Henderson] makes me feel like when he is around me."

ASU officials in the football program, the athletic department and the president's office refused to comment.

Free Your Conscience My Friend

Terri Patraw — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:26:00 GMT

Your conscience is the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is right or wrong.

If you have a guilty conscience, you feel guilty about something because you know it was wrong.

If you have a clear conscience, you do not feel guilty because you know you have done nothing wrong.

Conscience is doing what you believe is right even though it might be unpopular, difficult, or dangerous.

Good Luck to you my friend. May you leave with a clear conscience; removing the burden you have carried for far too long. The truth will set you and your family free...

Federal Judge Blasts Lawyers, Client

Terri Patraw — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:43:00 GMT

A federal judge in Nevada ordered the lawyers for former eTreppid software designer Dennis Montgomery to pay about $350,000 in sanctions and fees after finding that Montgomery lied to the court and his attorneys manipulated the case in an effort to undermine court orders.

In a scathing 53-page ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Cooke called out Deborah Klar and Teri Pham:

"The conduct of Ms. Klar and Ms. Pham epitomizes the scorched earth litigation tactics that undermine citizens' confidence in our courts and our system of justice," Cooke said in her order, issued Tuesday.

"The court cannot allow attorneys who practice before it to operate as hired bounty hunters who, armed with extensive resources, take it upon themselves to manipulate the legal system with impunity," she said.

In her ruling, Cooke said they must pay Flynn $204,411 in attorney's fees and costs, ordered Klar to pay $102,205 in sanctions, and said Pham and the Liner Firm must pay $20,411 each in sanctions. Cooke also barred Klar and Pham from practicing law in Nevada for five years.

In addition, the judge ordered Montgomery to pay $61,323 in sanctions, saying he committed perjury in a second declaration to the court.

For another strong message on justice from the Honorable Valerie Cooke see Blog #3.

Courage

Terri Patraw — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:13:00 GMT

What are you supposed to do when the ones with power are hurting those with none?

Well, for starters you stand up. You stand up and tell the truth. You stand up for your friends.

You stand up even when you are all alone.

You stand up.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

For those who are limited in number and have the courage to stand up, the reward is feeling no regret despite the pain they endure.

The Banquet Of Consequences

Terri Patraw — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:24:00 GMT

"Sooner or later everyone sits down to the banquet of consequences"

~~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~~

"You Threatened Their Self-Interest"

Terri Patraw — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:23:00 GMT

Miss Terri,

Your unwavering fighting spirit is admirable and will carry you far.

Somebody should've told the administration that a problem passed on (fired) is not a problem solved. I assume they hired you for the qualities we saw on display when we watched your game that night a few years ago. If so, they would've been wise to reread their own hiring assessments of you and known you wouldn't just go away.

I certainly don't know the intricacies of your case, but it sounds like you pressed the university officials into a mistake. How else could one explain being dismissed four days after being praised and offered a raise?

Even without knowing details it's clear your dismissal was a huge tactical error on their part, but not surprising. A lot of people are driven by fear and self interest. You threatened their self interest which scared them into an immediate overreaction.

To compound that problem the UNR folks made a knee-jerk tactical mistake without first developing a strategy. Bad for them, good for your case. Regardless of the outcome the kids lose and that's sad.

I'll leave you with this... I always tell my Marines to "never make a mistake in a hurry." So, be patient...You already know they wilt under pressure.

I wish you well in your trial. I'll watch the news reports if I'm here, but am hoping to be in Afghanistan.

Semper Fi.

A Message That Has Left Me Speechless

Terri Patraw — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:53:00 GMT

Dear Ms. Patraw,

Greetings from DC. I was in Reno with some other Marines for business a few years ago. We didn't care for the casinos so we went for a walk after work and stumbled upon one of your soccer games. Even though we only watched you coach one game it was clearly apparent that what you were doing for those girls (beyond sports) is exactly what we do for our Marines.

The three of us came away very impressed with your competitiveness, but mostly your leadership. We've occasionally checked the university's website to see how your teams were doing since them. Obviously, it's been quite some time since we last looked, but are saddened to see how it ended.

That said, we're happy to see you still led even when it was difficult to do so.

Good luck and Semper Fi.

Nevada NCAA Investigation Update

Terri Patraw — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:34:00 GMT

By Dan Hinxman • RGJ • February 12, 2009

Nevada athletic director Cary Groth had hoped the NCAA's Committee on Infractions would review its 14-month-long investigation into the Nevada athletic department at its February meeting, but that is not likely to happen.

"I don't know if we're on it or not," said Groth, who added that the NCAA has not told her what the specific focus of the investigation is.

It is common practice for the NCAA not to communicate with universities under investigation unless necessary. The governing body for college sports has not yet contacted Groth or Dr. Jean Perry, the university's special assistant to the president for athletics, academics and compliance, regarding the investigation.

Groth and Perry said Nevada has not received a notice of allegations.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In response to a public records request, however, a representative of the University has informed me that the university has received a 'draft' of the notice of allegations. This, and any appearance before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions would mean this is a major infractions case; that the university has been notified that major violations of NCAA rules have been found.

"...Those Rendered Sleepless By Their Fear Of Justice"

Terri Patraw — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:54:00 GMT

Panic often sets in for those rendered sleepless by their fear of justice.

- Taha Hussein, Ph.D., The Sufferers

Happy 1st Birthday, Big Guy!

Terri Patraw — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:28:00 GMT

Honesty

Terri Patraw — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:56:00 GMT

Morality may consist solely in the courage of making a choice.
Wickedness is always easier than virtue,
for it takes a short cut to everything.
But over time you learn, you can't make wrong work.

There are always two choices,
two paths to take.
One is easy.
And your only reward is that it's easy.
You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong.

Work joyfully and peacefully,
knowing that right thoughts and right efforts
will inevitably bring about right results.

You can never lose anything that really belongs to you,
and you can't keep that which belongs to someone else.

You always experience the consequences of your own acts.
If your acts are right, you'll get good consequences;
if not, you'll suffer for it.

Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

The Way People Treat You...

Terri Patraw — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:05:00 GMT

A former colleague shared this quote with me years ago. I have never forgotten it.

The way people treat you is never a reflection of you. Rather it is a reflection of them.

I have thought of this quote a lot in the past year plus. There are those who encourage, admire, and support me for standing up to wrongdoing. There are others who express their anger at my resolve for standing up to corruption.

Why do people treat me so vastly different based on the the same reports of improper governmental action?

                        Well, the way people treat me is a reflection of them.

If a person's moral standards encompass truth and integrity they will certainly admire my efforts.

If, on the other hand, a person fears the truth, preferring to believe all is above-board, they will likely feel resentment towards me.

Then there are those with much to lose when the truth comes out. Those are the ones who engage in the smear campaign against me to cover their improprieties.

Think about the incredible power of the quote above. It pertains to all of us in every interaction we have with people. It is so very true.

Do you support a reporter of illegal activity...or do you support those who engage in illegal activity? Your own morals and standards will influence your answer.

"Your Ability To Create Success Is Unbelievable"

Terri Patraw — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:41:00 GMT

It is hard to choose what exactly to say to you or what to thank you for. You do so many things and I'm always thinking, "don't forget to thank Terri for that or tell her what it meant to you." However, you do and have done so much for this team and for me...

...I truly believe you salvaged what was left of the soccer player inside myself.

You probably hear this sort of thing a lot - which is maybe why others or myself do not say it a lot but, thank you for everything. When I say everything I truly mean that in every sense of the word. For the time, equipment, the way you take care of your players and your team. Your attitude is incredible and I feel privileged to say that I have played under your direction.

Your ability to create success is unbelievable and I feel lucky to be a part.

Thank you...

Nevada Soccer Player

Terri Patraw: "You Always Fought For Us"

Terri Patraw — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:47:00 GMT

I received this wonderful message on December 27th from a Nevada soccer student-athlete. I had not spoken to her in over a year when I received this thoughtful and touching email...

I just wanted to take the time to tell you how thankful I am for all the opportunities you have given me. I can honestly say I never had a coach that was more committed or cared about her athletes more than you. You always fought for us and I wanted to make sure you knew how much that meant not only to me, but the rest of the players as well.

You were a round the clock coach and cared about us as individuals, and were always there on and off the field. I felt comfortable enough with you to know that I could approach you with anything and you would give me the advice or guidance I needed. You gave me so much confidence as a player and taught me so much about being a person. Under you I grew as a player and person, and it was one, if not the most fun seasons I have ever had.

With everything going on at school it has been hard to keep in touch, but I hope all is well and you had a good holiday, and a happy new year.

Best Wishes...

University, Golf Coach Penalized By NCAA

Terri Patraw — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:31:00 GMT

Coastal Carolina's athletic department was placed on two years' probation by the NCAA and publicly reprimanded Wednesday for violations involving a former women's golf coach.

Brian Ashley was the Chanticleers coach when he gave a team member $500 to cover about two months of board and had given a graduate assistant $100 with instructions to pay another golfer's university account.

Ashley stepped down as Coastal Carolina coach a year ago.

"This case is narrow in scope but important in issues," said former Miami athletic director Paul Dee, who chaired the NCAA committee on infractions that handled the case. "It involves the knowing and willful conduct by the former head coach and could've compromised the welfare of the two student athletes."

The case involved impermissable financial aid violations and was limited to the former head coach and two student-athletes. The committee also found unethical conduct with the former head coach due to the willful and blatant nature of his violations and his refusal to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Penalties for the violations include two years of probation, public reprimand and censure, and a 30-month show-cause penalty for the former head coach.

The show-cause penalty essentially bans the former head coach from working at any NCAA institution for the next 2.5 years.

Oh...The Smear Campaign

Terri Patraw — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:55:00 GMT

Ever notice over the past year that:

Nobody is accusing me of cheating. Nope...the NCAA is not investigating the soccer program.

Nobody is accusing me of having an unsuccessful program. Nope the soccer program grew from worst to first in just two years under my leadership.

Nobody is accusing me of recruiting bad citizens into the university. Nope...no failed drug tests, no soccer players arrested, no abusive misconduct. Just good students and good athletes.

Nobody is accusing me of hitting my student-athlete(s). Nope that was the other coach the athletic director retained.

Nobody is accusing me of damaging facilities. Nope that was the other coach the athletic director retained.

Nobody is accusing me of having poor performance evaluations. Nope, I had the top evaluations annually.

Nobody is accusing me of going over budget. Nope, I was within my budget every single year.

Nobody is accusing me of jeopardizing the eligibility of my student-athletes. Nope, that was the other coach the athletic director retained.

Nobody is accusing me of jeopardizing the welfare of my student-athletes. Nope, that was the other coach the athletic director retained.

Nobody is accusing me of unethical conduct. Nope, that was the other coach the athletic director retained.

Nobody is accusing me of having a 'relationship' with my student-athlete(s). Nope, that was the other coach the athletic director retained.

Since they know I am not a lesbian they went another route...they tried to portray me as a whore. Hmmm...OK...how old are we...desperate times call for desperate measures.

Do you know what the athletic director told me in our last meeting on August 28, 2007...she said she looked in my personnel file and had nothing to use against me! I kid you not.

U of Georgia Prof, Athletic Whistleblower Leaves Legacy

Terri Patraw — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:48:00 GMT

She was never a star athlete or a championship coach. In fact, there were star athletes and championship coaches who disliked her a great deal, when Jan Kemp famously cleared her throat and spoke up more than two decades ago about what was rotten at the University of Georgia.

But the impact of what Kemp had to say -- and of what she did -- resonates today. Her exposure of academic fraud within the Bulldogs football program helped set in motion a host of reforms that have made college athletics at least a slightly more civilized place today. At the very least, she helped expose the underbelly of a profitable beast and forced us all to examine it.

"She had an impact in convincing the world that the off-the-field stuff in college sports was important," said University of California-Berkeley professor and author Murray Sperber, who has written several acclaimed books on the conflicted coexistence of big-time sports and higher education. "And she took an enormous amount of s--- for it."

Kemp fought hard enough against powerful, popular opposition that she should be remembered and revered.

What she did took more guts than slamming into the middle of the line on fourth-and-1.

For everyone who cares about maintaining education's fundamental role within the pseudo-professional world of college athletics, Kemp is a hero. For every athlete who has been helped toward a degree by enhanced academic support, Kemp is a hero. And for everyone who ever stood on principle in the face of institutional backlash, Kemp is a hero.

If schools didn't care whether their athletes got an education, nobody was there to call them on it. Until Kemp did.

Kemp's stand -- at a time when Georgia was at football's forefront under Vince Dooley, winning the 1980 national title -- got her fired as the English coordinator for Georgia's developmental studies program in 1982.

The professor sued the school and won her job back along with a $1 million settlement, but it was the university's arrogance in taking the case to court that led to seamy revelations about misplaced academic priorities.

The Georgia scandal dovetailed with other significant off-field scandals of the same time: a Creighton basketball player who came forward to admit that he went through school there without being able to read or write; a South Carolina football player who detailed to Sports Illustrated his steroid abuse; major pay-for-play revelations that rocked SMU football and Kentucky basketball.

A new level of accountability was reached and has been maintained, thanks in no small part to Jan Kemp.

"In the history of college sports, she's more than a footnote. Frankly, she's more important than Dooley. Coaches come and go. She had a lasting effect."

Nevada Official Indicted By Grand Jury

Terri Patraw — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:35:00 GMT

A grand jury has indicted Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki on charges stemming from his management of a multibillion-dollar college savings program in his previous position as Nevada’s state treasurer.

The Clark County grand jury indictment handed up Tuesday names Krolicki and his former chief of staff in the treasurer's officer, Kathryn Besser. The indictment accuses Krolicki of two counts of misappropriation and falsification of accounts by a public officer, and two counts of misappropriation by a treasurer.

The four counts all are felonies, and each carries a possible sentence of up to four years in prison.

Besser faces two counts, including being a principal to misappropriation and falsification of accounts and being a principal to misappropriation by a treasurer.

Ex-Mayoral Aide Receives Jail Sentence For Perjury

Terri Patraw — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:57:00 GMT

Stoic and publicly silent through months of a sex scandal, the woman whose relationship with former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick led to his downfall broke her silence Monday, shedding tears as she pleaded guilty.

Christine Beatty, a former aide to the mayor, accepted a four-month jail sentence in exchange for admitting to obstruction of justice charges for her actions in a civil lawsuit brought by two police officers.

The officers claimed Kilpatrick retaliated against them when they suspected wrongdoing by members of his inner circle.

Sexually explicit text messages between Kilpatrick and Beatty, published in January by the Detroit Free Press, contradicted witness-stand denials they were having an affair. Both were married at the time.

"I lied under oath," Beatty told the judge.

"I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury and to impede and obstruct the fair administration of justice," she said in pleading guilty to two felonies.

Beatty, 38, the mother of two young daughters will begin her jail sentence Jan. 5.

Kilpatrick, 38, pleaded guilty three months ago, resigned from office and was sentenced to 120 days in jail.

Coach Receives NCAA's Harshest Penalty

Terri Patraw — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:16:00 GMT

Kelvin Sampson was forced out as Indiana's basketball coach last February amid a burgeoning scandal over NCAA recruiting violations. Now, the NCAA is taking the step to ensure he can't coach a college program for at least five years.

Sampson received a five-year show-cause penalty -- one of the harshest the NCAA can levy against an individual. The Hoosiers also received three years' probation.

In its report, the NCAA committee said: "A head coach does not promote compliance when he intentionally ignores committee penalties directed at him for intentional rules violations. A head coach also does not promote compliance when he himself commits intentional violations."

Indiana was accused of four major NCAA violations that stemmed from more than 100 impermissible phone calls to recruits by Sampson and his assistant coaches during his first season in Bloomington.

The most serious charge against Sampson was that he provided false information to NCAA enforcement staff members and Indiana compliance officers.

The fallout also cost Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan his job.

There have been a number of coaches in a variety of sports who have received a show-cause punishment. Former Cal basketball coach Todd Bozeman was given an eight-year show cause, but it took him 10 years to finally get hired, by Morgan State. As Bozeman has said, getting a job after receiving such punishment is extremely difficult.

For more on NCAA Investigations see Blog #2 - The NCAA Notice Of Allegations.

Terri Patraw: Honesty Is The Best Policy

Terri Patraw — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:45:00 GMT

J.P. Hayes says anyone else on the PGA Tour in his situation "would have done the same thing."

During the second stage of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament last week in Texas, Hayes discovered that on two shots on one hole, he had unwittingly used a prototype golf ball not approved for competition by the United States Golf Association.

No one would have known. And a full-time spot on the PGA Tour in 2009 was on the line. But Hayes, honoring the tradition of a game where the players police themselves, turned himself in and was disqualified.

Hayes had a choice: He could have said nothing and kept playing, with no one aware of his mistake. Or he could turn himself in and let his mistake cost him a 2009 PGA Tour card.

He chose the latter.

Based on the current prevailing feelings toward Hayes' ethical maneuver, don't be surprised if tournament sponsors are ringing his phone off the hook this week in hopes of lining him up as a special invite for their upcoming events. In fact, such an outreach could lead to a scenario in which Hayes is actually able to enter more tourneys than if he had simply swept the incident under the rug, continued on to the final stage of Q-school and qualified through those means.

Call it karma or coincidence, but the gods have a way of rewarding those who adhere to the Rules. Honesty is the best policy, and that policy may pay dividends for Hayes next season. Let's hope so...

For more on this see the ESPN Blog.

UC Berkeley Settles Discrimination, Retaliation Lawsuit

Terri Patraw — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:59:00 GMT

Karen Moe Humphreys, a former Olympic gold medal swimmer who became a coach and administrator at UC Berkeley, will receive $3.5 million plus back pay and benefits to the time of her termination in February 2004. Under terms of the settlement Humphreys will also be reinstated.

Humphreys, who worked at UC Berkeley from 1978 until 2004, alleged that she lost her job at Berkeley because she complained about gender discrimination and in retaliation for “blowing the whistle” on a hostile work environment for women in the athletic department.

“Although the attorneys’ fees and the costs aspect of the settlement is high, it represents a compromise of the total amount sought by Ms. Humphreys,” college officials said in the statement.

Athlete Dies And University Still Cannot Tell The Truth

Terri Patraw — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:30:00 GMT

ESPN Outside The Lines did an investigative feature on the tragic death of UCF football player, Ereck Plancher. Plancher died on March 18, 2008 after collapsing near the end of a conditioning session. The lengthy report can be read here.

A six-month investigation indicates:

• Coaches and trainers were aware Plancher suffered from an inherited condition, sickle-cell trait, that can cause serious problems during high-intensity workouts. But they didn't appear to employ precautions.

• Plancher struggled severely at the end of the workout, and coaches and trainers were slow to respond.

• Coach George O'Leary and athletic department officials significantly understated the difficulty of the conditioning session in their public statements.

• The university did not begin interviewing players about the incident until more than a month after it happened; even then, some players with relevant information were never questioned.

James Jamison and Jevaughn Reams are the first players to go on the record about what took place that morning. Their stories -- which are corroborated by other players who requested anonymity -- undercut O'Leary's characterization of the workout as "not taxing," and also suggest coaches and trainers didn't respond to obvious signs Plancher was struggling.

"People who would normally be in front, never complaining about running, never getting tired, they were on the ground, cramping, throwing up and stuff," Jamison says. "

Plancher collapsed. Jamison and another teammate yelled to the trainers, but no one responded. Jamison says O'Leary told the players to let Plancher try to get up on his own.

Asked how long the conditioning session lasted, Jamison estimated about 30-35 minutes.

Athletic Director Keith Tribble told the media it was a "basic conditioning" drill that lasted 10 minutes.

O'Leary described the session by saying, "It was not a taxing workout."

Associate athletic director David Chambers said the workout actually lasted 20 minutes. He said that Tribble had misspoken -- the 10-minute time frame was the "cool down period."

Jamison and other players were furious about the way O'Leary and Tribble described the workout.

"I've always been raised if you get in trouble, tell the truth. The truth is better than lies because you got to keep telling another lie, then another lie, then another lie, especially when it comes to somebody's life. And this guy did nothing wrong. He just died for no reason."

Shortly after Plancher's death, O'Leary told his players to avoid talking to the media about the incident.

George O'Leary is the same man who was fired from Notre Dame after he was caught lying on his resume. Pardon me for not believing a word that comes out of his mouth. Such despicable conduct for a man who is entrusted to instill values in his student-athletes. Some people truly have no shame.

The attempts at spin-control and the outright lying by athletic department coaches and administrators is astonishing. When universities hire incompetent, self-serving individuals into positions of leadership the students are the victims.

Terri Patraw: Day 1 Of The Halloween Triple Homicide Trial

Terri Patraw — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:36:00 GMT

I attended opening day of the Halloween murder trial of Samisoni Taukitoku. The 19-year-old man faces three counts of murder and four counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Killed were Charles Coogan Kelly, 21, an acclaimed snowboarder from Truckee; Derek Kyle Jensen, 23, a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno; and Nathan Viljoen, 23, a former UNR student. Several others were injured. Today began with the selection of the jury, followed by opening statements, and then testimony from 4 witnesses.

Witness #1: She was the girlfriend of one of the victims. She had attended the party with her boyfriend and two other friends that fateful night. She was understandably emotional as she spoke of the victim, the atmosphere of the party, and hearing gunshots outside. It was not until the next morning that she learned her boyfriend had been killed.

Witness #2: He attended the party with a friend, one of the victims.  He spoke of hearing gunshots while he was downstairs grabbing a beer. He went outside to find his wounded friend crawling across the patio in the backyard. His friend later died.

Witness #3: He was one of the renters of the home. He described his fruitless efforts to clear out many of the uninvited guests as the party was getting out of hand. He witnessed a man beating Tyrone Hanson, a former Nevada men's basketball player, in the kitchen...however, this witness was unable to get a good look at the assailant beyond general characteristics. He spoke of how he escaped to the backyard only to hear gunshots while he was talking with others. He then climbed up the outside of his house to hide in his bedroom. He remained there until the police arrived. He later saw a male lying on the floor by a door. He did not know the victim.

Witness #4: She is a current Nevada women's basketball player. Her testimony included a detailed eye witness account of the defendant beating and kicking Tyrone Hanson. She spoke of Hanson's girlfriend lying on top of him trying to protect him as the defendant pointed the gun at Hanson.  This witness tried to leave the kitchen, where the beating was taking place, but was stopped by the defendant. She said that the defendant pointed the gun directly at her. She was later able to escape outside where she heard gunshots as she left the party with her friend, a Nevada teammate. This witness was the only one able to identify Taukitoku and place a gun in his hands. She said she is 100% sure that the defendant is the one who beat Hanson and pointed the gun at her.

The trial continues tomorrow and is expected to last a few weeks. For more on this story see Blog #3.

Terri Patraw: A Disturbing Title IX Case

Terri Patraw — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:15:00 GMT

Arizona State University is being sued under Title IX in the case J.K. v. Arizona Board of Regents.

On March 3, 2008, the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, joined by the ACLU of Arizona and six other leading women’s advocacy organizations, filed a brief as friends of the court in J.K. v. Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of a student who was raped in her dorm room by an Arizona State University football player. The brief argues to the United States District Court for the District of Arizona that ASU is liable under Title IX for the rape and for the related discrimination suffered by the plaintiff, because ASU knew that the football player in question was a serial sexual harasser. ASU had expelled the harasser for severe sexual harassment of multiple women at ASU over the summer, and then weeks later arranged to re-admit him – with no supervision -- to ASU and to the ASU dorms where he raped the plaintiff a few months later.

A university that turns a blind-eye to the violent behavior of a student places other students at risk. This case examines the responsibility of the university to protect other students from potential violence when it has knowledge of a student's abusive past.

This case caught my attention for several reasons...Title IX, student-athlete, alma mater, and the allowance of a violent student-athlete to stay on an athletic team and on campus despite a history of abusive behavior toward women. A certain local university should be paying close attention to this case and the liability they may have exposed themselves to by allowing an abusive student-athlete to remain in its' basketball program.

Florida University Settles Title IX Lawsuit, AD Resigns

Terri Patraw — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:29:00 GMT

The lawsuit filed against Florida Gulf Coast University by the former volleyball coach and the former women’s golf coach alleged retaliation for their Title IX complaints.

This began 18 months ago when these women went to then interim-FGCU Athletic Director Merrily Dean Baker to express concerns about gender equity issues. Baker said she never imagined and the coaches never intended for this to turn into a lawsuit or a landmark settlement. She said there are millions of reasons why FGCU officials were in the wrong.

"Why would you give $3.4 million?" Baker said. "I know the university broke laws."

"I think those women have been terribly wronged and I think justice has been served," she said. "It took a lot of courage for them to address issues they thought were important."

"I learned as a young kid that if I did something wrong it was better to fess up to it," Baker said. "The University should have just said they were wrong. It is easier to heal when you admit your faults."

FGCU Athletic Director Carl McAloose resigned in the wake of the settlement.

Be sure to see Blog #2 for a compelling story on A University Brought To Its Knees by 5 women advocating against gender discrimination.

My lawsuit against the University of Nevada, Reno alleges, among other things, retaliation for my advocacy of equal treatment for my female student-athletes.

Why are we still having to fight for this in 2008?

Terri Patraw: NCAA Investigation Update

Terri Patraw — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:17:00 GMT

As of Friday, October 17, 2008 a representative of the University of Nevada, Reno has stated that they have yet to receive their Notice of Allegations from the NCAA. They also said the University has not received a letter from the NCAA clearing them in the investigation; the latter is not going to happen.

The University has stated previously that they have to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions in the coming months. Only institutions found to have committed major NCAA violations appear before the Committee on Infractions. Hence my statement that they will not be receiving a letter clearing them.

One can only wonder what is holding up this nearly year long investigation.

Terri Patraw: Athletic Director Fired Over NCAA Allegations

Terri Patraw — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:10:00 GMT

Southeast Missouri State fired their athletic director 5 days after the University received its Notice of Allegations from the NCAA. The NCAA levied the dreaded Failure to Monitor charge against the University; this charge is one step below the NCAA's most serious allegation, Lack of Institutional Control. The NCAA said Southeast Missouri State failed to monitor its men's and women's basketball programs. The women's coach had already been fired while the men's coach has been put on administrative leave.

For more on this case see the following articles from ESPN and the Southeast Missourian.

Here is a growing list of Athletic Directors terminated just this year after their University's were hit with a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA Enforcement Staff:

David Hart, Florida State - Failure to Monitor
Rick Greenspan, Indiana University - Failure to Monitor
Brian Teter, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Lack of Institutional Control
Don Kaverman, Southeast Missouri State - Failure to Monitor

We are still waiting for the University of Nevada, Reno to release it's Notice of Allegations from the NCAA.

Terri Patraw: Patraw, et al Win Supreme Court Order

Terri Patraw — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:10:00 GMT

Terri Patraw on Thursday won a Supreme Court order sending her demand for a grand jury investigation of the University of Nevada, Reno back to district court for a hearing.

Patraw, Geology professor Richard Schweickert and UNR Police Officer Lane Grow filed the petition demanding a grand jury investigation. Their petition charges that “there have been many major violations of state laws that include fraud, embezzlement, forgery, obstruction of justice and perjury” by UNR officials.

That petition charges that the attorney general’s office is either involved in the criminal conduct or is helping cover them up. It says UNR officials are engaged in a conspiracy to conceal public corruption that includes illegal spending of nearly $4 million in federal funding.

For more on this see the Nevada Appeal.

Terri Patraw: From One Whistleblower To Another

Terri Patraw — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:45:00 GMT

I received this email last week. The message is wonderful...to see who sent it was stunning. I am so thankful to those that reach out and remind me of all the good in this world. I have seen so much corruption in the past year that a shower could never cleanse me of the filth.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry that you are having to go through such an ordeal. It is good to see there are still people in this world who have the integrity to stand up for what is right. It is amazing how people in positions of leadership manipulate situations and information…I did not change my values and I stood up for what was right. I wish you the best with your case. Stay strong.

NCAA Committee On Infractions Adds Additional Charge

Terri Patraw — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:20:00 GMT

Athletic Director Rick Greenspan announced his resignation almost immediately after Indiana University revealed that the NCAA Committee on Infractions had added a "Failure to Monitor" charge against the school.

The charge means that the school had monitoring procedures in place, but they were not adequate and effective. It is less serious than "Lack of Institutional Control" but still could bring serious penalties, including a postseason ban.

The Committee on Infractions has the authority to add charges beyond the allegations laid out by the NCAA enforcement staff. The Committee heard a case involving Long Beach State in August 2007 and also added a "Failure to Monitor" charge.

Florida State was also recently charged with "Failure to Monitor" in their investigation into academic fraud; they were hit with this allegation directly by the NCAA enforcement staff.

Note that the AD’s at Indiana, Long Beach State, and Florida State were all forced to resign in the wake of their NCAA investigations. All three univerisities were hit with the "Failure to Monitor" charge.

Thomas Yeager, former chairman of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, said Failure to Monitor is a lesser but similar charge to Lack of Institutional Control, the most serious accusation the NCAA can levy against a school.

Usually if the transgressions are widespread, it's a Lack of Institutional Control," said Yeager. "A Failure to Monitor means there were red flags that should have been caught ... That's less than a lack of institutional control charge but it's still serious."

Niece And Nephew Jade And Logan

Terri Patraw — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:43:00 GMT

UNR Attorney Ordered To Appear In Federal Court

Terri Patraw — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:42:00 GMT

University of Nevada, Reno Attorney Charles Hilsabeck was ordered to appear before Judge Pro on August 18th in Federal Court. The case in question is Hussein S. Hussein vs Mary Dugan and Leah Wilds. The plaintiff, Dr. Hussein, had submitted a motion to the court requesting sanctions against Hilsabeck.

The motion accused Hilsabeck et al of submitting false evidence, perjury, and subornation of perjury.

Judge Pro began the hearing notifying Plaintiff Hussein's counsel that he agreed with his allegations. Judge Pro said he clearly sees the color green where Hilsabeck says the color is red.  Judge Pro allowed Hilsabeck and his supporting counsel the opportunity to offer a defense to this clear discrepancy.

According to the allegations this series of falsehoods by Hilsabeck et al was repeated over an 8-month period despite several warnings and offered proof from Dr. Hussein's counsel that the information was false.

Judge Pro will decide what, if any, sanctions will be applied to Hilsabeck in the coming days. Sanctions can include anything from monetary fines, to contempt, to disqualification of counsel from the case or from practice altogether.

Lying under oath is one of the worst sins a lawyer can commit -- akin to stealing a client's money, legal experts said.

Charles Hilsabeck is the same UNR attorney leading the defense in my lawsuit. Mary Dugan is the lead General Counsel at UNR.

Terri Patraw: Verdict Delivered In Federal Court Today

Terri Patraw — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:34:00 GMT

I went to my first trial today in Federal Court. I watched closing arguments in a case my attorney was trying for another client of his. The case Richard Cosgrove vs Glen Wharton was a wrongful termination case. Cosgrove claimed he was fired for speaking out on matters of public concern. Cosgrove was an officer in the gun tower at the Nevada State Prison.

(In a 2006 article) Cosgrove said many of the guards have kept quiet for fear of retaliation. He said he was willing to come forward because he's retiring soon. "Correctional officers are pretty courageous people to do the job they do," he said, "but they're afraid to use their First Amendment rights. They're afraid to speak. We're walking around on eggs."

Ironically Cosgrove had a prior hearing before Hearing Officer Bill Kockenmeister in which Kockenmeister ruled in favor of the State and against Cosgrove. Kockenmeister is a state employee. The Nevada State Prison is a state entity. No conflict of interest there, huh?

The jury disagreed with Kockenmeister and delivered a unanimous decision in favor of Cosgrove and gave him every last dollar that his attorney, Jeff Dickerson, asked for.

Kockenmeister is the same hearing officer who was suspended due to misconduct in my hearing. An objective jury delivers justice. Imagine that...

nvlaw wrote:

Police officers, correction officers and prison guards face countless dangers in the line of duty. We expect them to be 100% right dealing with the most dangerous elements of society. They work in some of the most dangerous settings in America. Their right to speak out on their bosses' mismanagement should not be lightly disregarded. Public safety is at risk when these workers' first-hand reports of short-staffing, and worse, are stifled by politically appointed managers who want to save face and who lie about the reasons why a worker is canned. That a unanimous jury could see through these lies more readily than a politically appointed hearing officer and a politically connected judge is not surprising. Thank God for a system that eventually allows regular citizens to hear all the evidence and decide who is telling the truth.

Terri Patraw: Nuts And Bolts

Terri Patraw — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:23:00 GMT

UNR fired a winning soccer coach mid-season, a coach who had taken her team to new heights, a coach who took UNR to championships, a coach with no performance issues, a coach with commendable evaluations through her termination, a straight-shooting coach who protected her student athletes from gender discrimination, a coach who stood fearless in reporting blatant NCAA rule violations, a coach who refused to be sexually degraded because she is a woman, a coach who did these things as a role model to student athletes, who within days of her termination, reported NCAA violations and sexual harassment by her supervisor's husband.

NCAA violations and discrimination are of public concern. Patraw's reporting activity has borne retaliation but it has also borne fruit. The gambling golf coach has resigned. The NCAA is about to complete its intensive investigation of the University of Nevada, Reno athletic department.

Athletic Director Cary Groth offered Patraw a multi-year contract and $10,000 raise on August 22, 2007, and fired her on August 28, 2007, after an August 26, 2007 letter detailing sexual harassment and NCAA violations.

Patraw is substantially more qualified than the person filling her position. The program has suffered without her. The new coach has violated NCAA rules, giving UNR cause for termination. UNR knows of this violation, but it is apparently following its standard to ignore such reports. Patraw was not fired for performance issues. She had commendable evaluations every year and was offered a $10,000 raise on August 22, 2007, six days before her termination.

Terri Patraw: A Disturbing Statistic

Terri Patraw — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:31:00 GMT

Mary Dugan was appointed lead General Counsel at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2004. In the 4 years prior to her appointment only 12 lawsuits were filed against UNR. From 2005-08, under Dugan's legal advice, 56 lawsuits have been filed against UNR; with several more on the way.

Perjury, bribery, witness tampering, witness harassment, obstruction of justice, planting false evidence on plaintiffs; this is what Nevada tax payers are paying for. Credit the Reno-Gazette Journal for exposing the community to what is going on at UNR. The tax payers have a right to know that a few in leadership are wasting millions of tax payers dollars to cover up their illegal activity.

See Blog #3 for more on the Attorney General's criminal investigation of the University of Nevada.

Terri Patraw: A Thousand Thank You's...

Terri Patraw — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:06:00 GMT

A message from a beautiful human being...

I hope this reaches you well.

I'm sorry to disturb you, I have never met you... You did such an amazing job at UNR...

I know when you came in the program was a joke and you turned it into a nationally recognized program. I do not know the new coach but his resume is very average, I'm sure the program will fall back to where it was prior to 2004.

You seem like a total winner, I followed the program whilst you were in charge and congratulate you on doing such an amazing job, I can not even imagine how hard you worked to turn the program around.

I feel sympathy towards you of what happened last year, I respect you for speaking your mind about the foul play that was going on in the Athletic Dept.

I wish you all the very best in the future.

Terri Patraw: Thou Shalt Not Lie To The NCAA

Terri Patraw — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:26:00 GMT

Honesty is one of the sacred qualities the NCAA expects of its athletes, coaches and staff members; and recent history shows the NCAA disciplines those who do not tell the truth more severely than those who do.

NCAA bylaw 10.1 (d) clearly states the NCAA's expectations and defines unethical conduct as "knowingly furnishing the NCAA or the individual's institution with false or misleading information concerning the individual's involvement in or knowledge of matters relevant to a possible violation of an NCAA regulation."

Here is an interesting story from ESPN on some high profile cases.

Terri Patraw: The Courage To Stand Up

Terri Patraw — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:49:00 GMT

Terri Patraw: Athletic Director Resigns Amid NCAA Probe

Terri Patraw — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:09:00 GMT

The NCAA rule-breaking charges that had already decimated Indiana University’s men’s basketball program claimed another victim Thursday and will bring even more uncertainty in the coming months.

Indiana University announced the resignation Thursday of athletic director Rick Greenspan. Greenspan's resignation comes on the same day the university learned the NCAA Committee on Infractions has added a "failure to monitor" charge to its list of infractions following a hearing in Seattle earlier this month.

The case has already cost the athletic department more than $200,000 in legal fees, and the bills for most of this year haven’t come in yet.

For more on this story click on this link from ESPN.

Terri Patraw: Selling Ice To Eskimos

Terri Patraw — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:11:00 GMT

The Nevada Athletic Department commenting on the Golf Coach's resignation...

In resigning this month, Rich Merritt said he made "errors in judgment" the athletic department was not aware of, but he declined to elaborate. Athletic Director Cary Groth said the NCAA investigation had nothing to do with Merritt's resignation.

Is anyone buying this?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UNR Police Chief Adam Garcia on Pornography sent to his email account...

In one e-mail sent by Assistant Chief Todd Renwick to his boss, the message asks Garcia, "Chief, are we on for casual Friday this week?" and is accompanied by a photo of a naked woman sitting at a computer desk with her legs spread.

Garcia said he knew of the pornographic e-mails Renwick sent. But Garcia said he never saw them because he never opens e-mails that appear to be inappropriate, forwarded or spam, even if they were to come from UNR's president.

And, anyone buying this?

Terri Patraw: Well Wishes...

Terri Patraw — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:22:00 GMT

Some supportive and unsolicited comments that I have received...

I am proud of you for standing up, Terri. Those who seek justice are proud of you.

I am in your corner. I support your efforts to clean up the problems.

EVERYONE is pulling for you.

I've always subscribed to the theory that if there is corruption anywhere, a light needs to be shone brightly for all to see no matter what.

Terri Patraw: Men In Blue

Terri Patraw — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:23:00 GMT

The University of Nevada, Reno Police Department have been showing up at my home on orders from the UNR President. They come at any hour, even late at night, shining flashlights into my bedroom window. It is an embarrassing display of intellectual leadership. Threats and intimidation will never work with me.

Damning Statements - Must Read

Terri Patraw — Tue, 20 May 2008 02:18:00 GMT

June 16, 2005 in a statement by a jury in a Federal Lawsuit against University of Nevada, Reno:

“We are appalled and deeply disappointed that thru [sic] actions or inactions of management, administration and the University that this matter has come this far. It shows gross disregard for University policy, taxpayer’s money, and the court’s time.”

The severity of the problem was further documented in the University of Nevada, Reno Faculty Morale Study Report -August 2005:

“A large number of respondents cited a climate of intimidation, fear and powerlessness among university faculty and staff. Some described their work environment as hostile and expressed concern for a lack of the rule of law on campus. It is noteworthy that within an academic community that espouses the principles of academic freedom, so many respondents took extraordinary measures to preserve their anonymity, expressing fear of retaliation or even termination for expressing their viewpoints.”

Terri Patraw: False Evidence In A Lawsuit

Terri Patraw — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:38:00 GMT

Illegal tactics in a lawsuit include placing false evidence on your opponent. Those who have never been involved in a lawsuit do not understand that one side may lie and play dirty in an attempt to hide the truth. A smear campaign is the only defense to a defenseless case. Some parties in a lawsuit may pay bloggers to smear the opponent.

The truth will play out and I will be vindicated. As my very dear friend said to me today...everything you told me that was going to happen has. The Athletic Department is under investigation by the NCAA; The golf coach's cheating was exposed and he finally left the University; The Hearing Officer was suspended for the corrupt hearing; and Athletic Department personnel were caught tampering with witnessess and committing shameful perjury. By the end of the summer I expect further substantial developments.

Growing up, we are always told to tell the truth. Those who failed to learn from this advice will have to pay a steep price. If you believe in truth and integrity you will enjoy the fruits of this journey.

The Golf Coach

Terri Patraw — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:38:00 GMT

No more lying, no more cover-ups. Half a man would have owned up to your behavior long ago. Any coach who asks a student-athlete to lie on their behalf has no right to be in a position of leadership.

ESPN Story

Perjury Is A Felony

Terri Patraw — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:21:00 GMT

If you testify in a judicial proceeding, you have to swear under oath to tell the truth. This oath requires you to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If you violate this oath in sworn testimony, you’re guilty of the crime of perjury: deliberately giving false or misleading testimony under oath.