drakelead WEST HAVEN, CONN — The Drake Group, an organization whose mission is to defend academic integrity in higher education, has selected Dan Kane, an investigative reporter for Raleigh, North Carolina’s The News & Observer, to receive the Drake Hero Award. The Drake Hero Award was established in 2015 to honor an individual who has helped … Read more
“Prioritizing academics, well-being, fairness…” This is the NCAA mantra that is being touted and has been persistently repeated throughout the NCAA Final Four tournament events in Columbus, Ohio and San Antonio during the Division I men’s and women’s basketball championships. This message is of course amplified by television, social media and other delivery systems. In … Read more
In the wake of Dr. Larry Nassar’s convictions for sexual molestation, Drake Group president B. David Ridpath calls upon the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security to expand its current investigation beyond the actions of Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), to … Read more
NCAA President Mark Emmert said the NCAA has to resist the impulse to act hastily. “You’re dealing with young people’s careers and education. You’re dealing with institutional reputations. You’re dealing with a process that is, by its very nature, complicated, we have to get it right.” »Read more
Since deadly football violence triggered President Theodore Roosevelt’s intervention back in 1905, it seems that the immediate and long-term collateral damage related to the nether world of the athletics entertainment businesses at America’s colleges and universities has never exceeded the acceptance threshold of the general public or government officials. »Read more
It’s really all about making big money in the near term—money for the promoters, schools, conferences, and everyone involved.6 There are, however, notable exceptions—exploited counterfeit-amateur athletes.7 Many of these athlete-entertainers, so-called ‘student-athletes,’ do not have learning outcomes commensurate with a bona fide college education and have only a very remote chance of making it to … Read more
America has the most to lose as it confronts new global realities with its institutional priority of athletics over academics—all the while handicapped by the public’s continued obsession with sports entertainment. America’s present-day position does not present a pretty picture. What to do? »Read more
The latter question is likely on the minds of the Drakes as well as other reform-minded organizations and individuals. Will Secretary Duncan provide the leadership to change America’s dysfunctional system of higher education the mission of which has been hijacked by the sports entertainment industry, or, will he continue to flag problems but only provide … Read more
Since it is in the financial interest of conference commissioners, the NCAA and its member schools—presidents, trustees, ADs, coaches, and boosters—to portray athletes as legitimate, degree-seeking students, they are likely be quite forceful in the use of their influence and powers of intimidation to getwhat they want. What they want is the very best athletes—no … Read more
Standing in sharp contrast to the public’s reaction to the financial meltdown, oil drilling accidents and the like, the lack of public reaction to the reported cheating and academic corruption scandals at schools supporting big-time football and men’s basketball programs is stunning. The academic mission at many schools has been hijacked by the professional college … Read more