uab graduate student association's support of athletics resolution

8/10/2019 UAB Graduate Student Association's Support of Athletics Resolution

1/3

Resolution in Support of Athletics

WHEREAS we at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) understand the importance

of keeping faith with those who came before us, whose vision and dedication built such a

prestigious institution, and

WHEREAS UAB has a tradition of inspiring great accomplishment and a responsibility to uplift

those who strive to overcome obstacles to success, and

WHEREAS the 2014 UAB football team exhibited remarkable success under the leadership of

Coach Clark with existing facilities, and

WHEREAS the athletics programs of UAB, and football in particular, are vital to the recognitionof the UAB brand, student life and morale, increased enrollment and scholarship opportunities

for deserving youth and to the financial health of the city of Birmingham and metropolitan area,

and

WHEREAS both the retention and recruitment of athletes, coaches, students and faculty have

been placed in jeopardy by the reckless, hasty, unmerited shutdown of the football, rifle and

bowling programs at UAB, and

WHEREAS both the abrupt dismissal of these three athletic programs and the disingenuous

subsequent defense of such action appear to be for reasons other than the best interests of UAB,

given that UAB interests are not just about unsubstantiated financial concerns but about

providing a full college and educational experience to the student body, and

WHEREAS UAB is a leading university in research yet the Carr Report used to rationalize the

discontinuation of three UAB athletic programs was unscientific in its approach of the study, was

biased containing language suggesting a predetermined outcome, based on unfavorable 2013

data rather than the favorable 2014 data with a doubling of football attendance and fifth ranking

in Conference USA attendance, based on numbers obtained by asking coaches for a list of

improvements required to achieve Division I competitiveness without telling them it would beused against them to cancel their programs, did not consider any of the alternatives to ending

these programs, did not consider the multiple financial benefits of maintaining the programs, and

did not consider the over two million dollar costs of contract cancellations, and

WHEREAS the severe consequences of loss of Conference USA membership eligibility for other

UAB athletics programs was not taken into account, and


2/3

WHEREAS this decision did not take into account the opinion of the Faculty Athletics

Representative who expressed his confidence in the success of the football programs future, and

WHEREAS the current UAB president has refused to offer relief to the UAB students, alumniand community much less take responsibility for the harm he has inflicted, and

WHEREAS the decision of Ray Watts to discontinue these programs despite their success,

devalued the unique identity of UAB built upon overcoming challenges and rewarding

accomplishments, and

WHEREAS current UAB president Ray Watts has willfully avoided open communication and

shared governance in decision making and thus failed as a leader to contain the situation that

resulted from the decision and led the school into one of the biggest public relation crises in itshistory, and

WHEREAS the disreputable manner by which Ray Watts avoided responsible input and

concerns has violated the spirit of UAB and irreparably sacrificed the trust of students, faculty,

alumni and the entire UAB community

THEREFORE it is so resolved by the UAB Graduate Student Association:

(1) that the football, bowling and rifle programs resume full activity immediately, under the

understanding and expectation that these programs will continue uninterrupted and indefinitely

(2) that any decision or action, including financial, adversely affecting these programs or any

other UAB athletic program be made only after documented meetings involving the UAB

president, the Faculty Athletic Representative (currently Frank Messina) and the Athletic

Director or acting Athletic Director and after an advertised public hearing to which

undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and alumni are invited to attend and comment on

the alternatives

(3) that any adverse decision affecting any athletic program should require the unanimous

consent of the three above named officials, the UAB president, the Faculty Athletic

Representative (currently Frank Messina) and the Athletic Director, with a unanimously selected

substitute for the president as long as the president remains Ray Watts.


3/3

(4) that any review of UAB athletics programs must include the NCAA Faculty Representative,

students, faculty, administrators, alumni, donors and community as well as experts with a

common goal of improving UAB athletics.

uab graduate student association's support of athletics resolution

Documents