LSU Academic Center head sparked investigation

Posted 1:33PM on Thursday 21st March 2002 ( 23 years ago )

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - The investigation into possible preferential treatment for LSU athletes was sparked by a report from the head of the school's Academic Center for Athletes. Chancellor Mark Emmert and university spokesman Gene Sands said Roger Grooters, executive director of the academic center, alerted LSU officials in January of possible wrongdoing - including reports that athletes were getting excessive help from tutors and that faculty members were being pressured into giving favorable grades to athletes. That launched a six-week investigation, the second since last spring. LSU Athletic Department officials and attorney Mike Pharis questioned 53 athletes, staff and faculty members, The (Baton Rouge) Advocate reported Thursday. On March 8, an instructor from the kinesiology department met with LSU officials and provided information about alleged improprieties that the school has not fully revealed. Grooters referred all questions to Sands. ''(Grooters) did what he should have done, he heard about it and he reported it,'' Sands said. ``That's what he would be expected to do.'' LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman said the results of the investigation will be turned over to Southeastern Conference Commissioner Roy Kramer, who came to Baton Rouge on Tuesday to be briefed on the probe by school officials. Kramer, who said LSU was proceeding the way it should with the investigation, will decide if the NCAA should get involved. Sands said the fact that Grooters, who was hired this summer, informed officials in January could help LSU if the school is guilty. ``It will show that we're policing ourselves; that's one of the things critical to the process,'' Sands said. ``The university took early-on action to self-report this. It's an important expectation that the SEC and NCAA have of us, or any institution. It's important to proceed aggressively in matters such as this.'' Three members of the LSU Board of Supervisors said Wednesday night that they are concerned about the school's academic integrity being questioned. ``I am bothered by the perception that people might have about our academic system,'' board chairman Ronald Anderson of Ethel said. ``We can't do anything until it all comes to a conclusion. When that happens, and we see what we have, we can take appropriate action.'' ``It's a concern any time there's an investigation going on. ... It's a concern until we find out what it's all about,'' said board member Victor Bussie of Baton Rouge. Similar concerns were voiced by Dr. Jack Andonie of Metairie. ``But I know Mr. Grooters, and I have faith and confidence that if there is a problem, he will straighten it out and there won't be any problems."

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