In recent years, the University has made great strides in improving and promoting its academics.
The Wall Street Journal ranked our business school among the top 10 in North America in a recent report, and other colleges on campus have received honors for their improving curricula.
But regardless of whether we like it, our athletic department is still the first glimpse of the University for many people throughout the country.
Lately though, the face of the University has received some black eyes that we feel must be addressed.
An internal audit released Oct. 13 of University sports camps determined that current policies regarding how these camps are sold and how the sales are reported need to be tightened because University policies left loopholes open that could be in violation of NCAA requirements.
Another investigation is under way to determine whether athletes have been receiving reduced rates from several apartment complexes in Baton Rouge. If this is true, the practice would violate NCAA policy.
And finally, LSUPD arrested Travelle Gaines, assistant strength coach, Tuesday morning for allegedly acting as an intermediary between sports agents and student-athletes.
Situations like these do nothing to help the University’s slow climb out of the third tier, and our athletic department has a duty to straighten out its operations to get these and any other situations that cast the University in a negative light under control. Anything less is an embarrassment to the students of this University.
We call upon the athletic department’s administration to operate in a more transparent manner and to remember that it is here to serve the students, not the other way around.
There have been several times in recent months where athletic department administrators have dragged their feet when questioned by The Daily Reveille about how their business operates and how they provide information.
It is disconcerting that they are concerned enough about their operations that questions into the matter result in hesitation.
The athletic department needs to regain its focus on acting as the face of the University. It needs to retain its position as a powerhouse that not only serves as a major attraction to prospective students but also acts as a point of inspiration for students.
Until our academics outshine our athletics in national prominence, both entities need to work harder to improve their standing.
And the athletic department needs to keep its nose clean.
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