It is always the apples fault for being bad and never the one who brought the apples in, right?

That’s all it would’ve taken. Just a phone call. One phone call to set in motion a course of events that would’ve been in the best interests of all parties involved. One phone call to show that alumni, current students and all Iowans and anyone else affiliated with the University really did have the best people in place as our representatives and ambassadors. One phone call to put the entire situation to where we all thought it was a week ago, allowing the slow-turning wheels of justice to roll forward as intended. Just a phone call.

One phone call.

You make it seem like this should have been an easy situation to deal with, Bellanca.

As an outsider, I have just one question: Could somebody give me a background or a link on the James Hall case?

Well put. Very, very well put.

I’m not ashamed to be a Hawkeye as many of you are—I’m simply deeply saddened that Hawkeye Nation has such inept people running the place. Heads better roll today. They really better.

The only thing the Iowa Regents have done with any success is to jack tuition up every year and saddle young kids and their parents with more student debt.

Accountability does not exist in our government anymore, see current Bush Administration for reference after reference or the many atrocities the corporate owned media commits everyday without any consequences.

I agree dirty old man about being deeply sadden too and yes, I am not ashamed to wear my Hawk colors or pride on my sleeve but just severely disappointed at the unethical behavior displayed by those currently in charge of our beloved University.

So the Register did not completely bury the Regent meeting today but they tried their best. Who cares about a bombshell meeting with potential to bring down the administration of the major D1 In state University when you have a dog fire rescue to cover?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS

At least the Gazette put the meeting on its front page unlike the Register.

http://www.gazetteonline.com/

The Press Citizen and Gazette are leading the state in journalism on this story, seriously?

What will you do? Will you go to the games? I don’t think I can get up the excitement if this is all unresolved. I know my not going to games is not going to hurt the program or do any good, that is not what I am getting at. I do not want to make any statement by not attending or think it is some showing of solidarity. Nor do I think anyone else would be wrong for going. If this goes unresolved, I just doubt I will feel like it. I think it would feel like going to Chuck E Cheese after my Dad’s funeral, or going to cheer on OJ being inducted into the hall of fame or given some other honor. Not saying that’s how anyone should feel or judging anyone else. Maybe it will wane. Hopefully someone does the right thing.

That is the first and last time I discuss my feelings on a blog. “Men have feeling too, can I shaaaaare miiiine with you . . .” —hippy teacher from Beavis and Butthead.

But until there is SOME sort of resolution, no matter how well the team does or whatever, that black cloud will still be hanging over everything (and rightly so). Makes it awfully tough to genuinely give a rip if they convert this 3rd and 12 or whatever (which is highly questionable in its own right).
Your Chuck E Cheese/Dad’s funeral analogy is pretty apt – only let’s say we think it might have been their E. Coli-tainted pizza that killed him but we’re waiting for all of the health inspector’s findings to be revealed. Until then, do we still play Whack-A-Mole and Ski-Ball? Yeah, maybe. But there’s definitely an underlying feeling of nausea while doing so in the meantime.
Fuck, I dunno. Football itself is just so far down the list of priorities and importance (although by reading much of the message board postings it sure doesn’t seem that way), I can’t even really answer that question in any real way.

in this situation, as well as the current business and political climate, for someone in this sort of situation, to stand up and say, “I fucked up. I did something at the time that, because it was policy, because I was told, because I was scared, was not the right thing. I’m sorry, and I am responsible for my actions.”
But we don’t see this. Ever. Everybody gets lawyers and hides behind euphemisms and legalese. The people in power, the ones who go home to their happy families in their happy houses, who weren’t involved or really affected by what happens, just stare blankly say, “What? I did what I was supposed to do.” They form ranks and defend their actions to the end.
Bellanca, thanks for taking point on this. Thanks for being someone who has been/is in a position of authority who can speak from experience to say that it doesn’t have to be this way.
And as far as what I will do this season, I’ll watch. But my girlfriend, just a couple of days ago, asked if we were going to a game this season. I said I wasn’t sure yet. Now I am. I just can’t do it this year, unless this is all shown to be an elaborate fabrication.

Here’s the link, I can’t guarantee how it’ll work, but give it a shot.

So the head of the investigative committee is Bonnie Campbell, former State Attorney General who made her career on violent crime victims advocacy/crimes against women. I know I wouldn’t want her dogging my steps in a case involving a rape coverup. I also enjoyed how uncomfortable Sally Brown looked as she apologized.

The University officials should be given the choice between a formal and informal process. [Regents] “The informal process will be much quicker. Formal processes just take sooooo long. I don’t know about you, but if I were a once reputable offical at a University who had just, at best, handled an allegation of a heinous crime in a reckless manner, and at worst, attempted to cover up/play down an allegation of a heinous crime, I would definitely take the informal process. That’s just me though. It’s up to you. If you want a looooong, drawn out process where your good name is drawn through the papers, go for a formal proceeding.” (ssshhhhh . . . no one tell them that the informal process involves sharks with frickin lasers on the heads).

It appears that the Regents are doing all they can do right now. I knew they would not take any immediate action and that there would have to be further investigation. It will, of course, take way longer than it should.

The University will likely stay mute and under a Cheney-like veil of secrecy. I doubt anyone stands up and takes any responsibility.

Go Bonnie.

So a committee is going to look into this? How long does this take? Does anyone hear the broom coming to sweep this under the rug? Where are the big donors to the University at? Where are the Iowa business leaders? Where are the Iowa pols looking to justifiably grandstand on this horrible event/investigation cover up? Is there anyone that can do anything? Or is it just one long drawn out guessing game?

OH, Can I blame this on Steve Alford?

She was probably trashed and wanted to get it on so she was probably asking for it.

He also said, It’s absurd to think there was any cover up. Look at Duke, they were all innocent. This is stupid.

He doesn’t believe in people being actual victims. Or that people can be/are actually gullible and stupid. It’s her fault for not going to the police and her mom is just trying to distract attention away from her daughter’s actions.

He’s a very intelligent person, yet… this saddens me.

I am SO happy there are some REAL Hawkeye fans out there that put humanity above football games.

I am upset at the lack of support the university gave a potential rape victim, regardless who she was, if she was drunk, who the attackers were or even if the charges were true. She was examined medically and then NOTHING HAPPENED!!! WTF is that?

Can you imagine if this happened at an Iowa frat house? The media and University would have went wild. I do not think normal Iowa students get “informal” investigations at all. Not the Oppressive Public Safety and ICPD that I dealt with in the late 90s, early 00s.

The accused will have their day amongst a jury and maybe they are innocent. How the University blatantly did not contact the proper authorities in a timely and reasonable manner, only to hide behind each other or some layers of bureaucracy is what makes me so throughly upset at the Iowa Admins.

ps. Iowahomer777 obviously is sexist and thinks rape jokes are funny like McCain. Maybe he should start a legal fund for Hawkeye athletes called “Boys will be Boys” or “Kirk Ferentz can do no wrong.”

I’ve never read, nor have I posted on, a message board. It sounds as though that’s for the best, in this case.

Here’s a new post discussing the Board meeting today.

You guys are doing just what you’re accusing the athletic department of doing: handling this informally, so you can spin it for the best outcome. Here are some facts, Jacks:
1. leave your emotions at the door when you are trifling with peoples’ lives and careers. You guys are bleeding through every syllable. Everybody you want to be guilty is guilty. The letter from the mother of the victim is GOSPEL (NOT LIKELY)
2. You are not police or prosecutors. You’re playing Gothcha journalism without all the cards or facts.
3. You judges and jurors all all have taken an emotional leap of faith and are an embarrassment to justice.
4. Yeah, something smells in all this, no doubt. But you are so far from having the goods-all the goods-you’re just like the athletic department and the administration you have convicted and sent to hell.
5. Misguided and confused alleged rape victims never, ever do logical stuff. I’m not holding this young woman to any standard. She did a classic illogical thing by not going straight to the police. That’s a terrible shame. Where I come from, abuse victims are VICTIMS and must be respected like children who can not think clearly for themselves. The VERY FIRST people who knew of her alleged assault should have RUN to the police ASAP. If the letter is accurate, every single person who became aware of this incident should have RUN to the authorities. The charge here is NOT rudeness or BAD FORM. It’s a flippin crime!
6. There is so much WE DON’T know it is unconscionable to be so summary when just a fraction of the truth has been unpacked.
7. You big boys who were “sick” about bringing this to light should have listened to your stomachs and stuck with THE FACTS. There is no shame or twitching in reporting facts . You were nauseated by the height of your moral stand. There is one helluva chasm to jump when leaping from facts to conclusions.

Grow up and leave the law to the law.

Now, come and string me up!!!