Oct.

22, 2014

Almost 200 UNC paper classes uncovered by Wainstein report

By Jessica Coston

Former federal prosecutor Kenneth Wainstein today release the findings of his report on UNC-Chapel Hill
academic irregularities, saying that tutors and counselors in the athletic department steered student-athletes
toward paper classes for eligibility purposes.
Wainsteins 131-page report places Deborah Crowder, former student services manager for the African and
Afro-American studies department, at the center of the scandal. It said that she single-handedly created,
conducted and graded paper classes in which students were required to write just one paper and turn it in
to her at the end of the semester, much like in an independent study class.
No class meetings were held and liberally high grades were given with no regard to quality of work, Wainstein
said.
The classes were offered for nearly two decades of Crowders time at the university. Wainstein and his team
uncovered 188 different paper classes that were offered between 1989 and 2011. Crowder worked with the
chair of the department, Julius Nyangoro, to make the classes happen.
After reviewing 1.6 million emails, reviewing 150 final papers submitted by students and interviewing 126
people, Wainstien said he discovered that some university employees were award of the fact that these
classes were being offered and that they even advised student-athletes to take them to boost their grade
point averages.
The report found that several counselors with the athletic department, primarily those with the Academic
Support Program for Student-Athletes, knew about the classes. Some went as far as suggesting grades for
Crowder to give in order to ensure eligibility.
Wainstein said the athletic employees with the most knowledge were those with the football program and
that most athletic programs, including baseball and womens soccer, were aware of how easy the classes
were, but not of the fact that they had no faculty involvement.
In regard to Rashad McCants accusations about Roy Williams, head basketball coach, having knowledge of the
scandal, the report said that McCant never agreed to an interview and that there was no evidence to support
his allegations. It did, however, say that one of Williams staff members admitted to knowing.
Wainstein said that he believes that happened due to a lack of oversight.
Chancellor Carol Folt said that the university has taken and will continue to take measures to correct its past
wrongdoings. She said it has already put policy in place to ensure the review of department chairs, electronic
tracking of independent study students and the enhancement of counseling services.
The reason we commissioned this report, Fold said, really is to fully understand and address that past so
the community can finally move forward.