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The University of Wisconsin Athletic Board is in the midst of an internal investigation after several serious allegations were brought by Jeremi Suri, a UW history professor who stepped down from the board last month.
In a Sept. 17 letter to Chancellor Biddy Martin, Suri laid out three of his “gravest concerns” concerning the board’s conduct. First, he alleges the board has become a “facilitator for the interests of the Athletic Department,” not modifying any part of any proposal the department has presented in three years.
Additionally, Suri called official meetings “meaningless” because “key information is generally revealed in personal phone calls that only a selected number of Athletic Board members receive,” and decisions are made without consultation from the remainder of the board.
Finally, the most alarming charge involves “character attacks and personal harassment against members who question decision-making.” Suri said such attacks have become the norm of committee proceedings.
As a result, the Athletic Board — with Martin’s approval — decided the best course of action was a self-study.
Suri’s allegations have yet to be proven as fact, so there is certainly the possibility that the allegations are overblown or even false. However, Suri serves as a respected faculty member in the history department, and Martin should recognize these severe allegations merit a serious investigation.
We are not confident that an internal investigation will unearth any of the alleged troubles on the Athletic Board. Athletic Board Chair Walter Dickey declined to comment on Suri’s allegations in an interview with the Herald but said part of their self-study includes civility between board members.
Dickey’s lack of leadership in this case is a disappointment. He clearly fails to recognize the severity of the allegations and the need for a serious investigation. Until he steps up and proposes a more thorough investigation — regardless whether Suri’s allegations are proven true — it will be hard for us to believe that Dickey is actually serious about confronting the problem.
Without any external investigation, it will be hard for the Athletic Board to prove itself as a legitimate campus decision-making body. The board needs a system of checks and balances to ensure it acts with legitimacy and not as a self-serving group of individuals who grant a blank check to the Athletic Department’s agenda in exchange for season tickets to Badger games.
It is time for Martin to step up and call for a valid investigation of the Athletic Board, as the millions of UW fans deserve to know their Athletic Board is looking out for the best interests of athletes, students, faculty and fans — not just the Athletic Department.
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You don’t screw with Herr Suri. You just don’t.
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8:49, the ones that you don’t screw with are UW Athletic Dept.’s top dawgs. What a sad, shameful bunch! Cheers to Suri for having the guts and character to stand up to the corrupt good old boy network!