Friday, October 10, 2008

Report: Arthur’s grades investigated

By J-W Staff and Wire Reports

Kansas forward Darrell Arthur rejects a shot by North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough in the first half of the Jayhawks' Final Four victory over the Tar Heels in April at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas forward Darrell Arthur rejects a shot by North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough in the first half of the Jayhawks' Final Four victory over the Tar Heels in April at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Advertisement

The Dallas Independent School District has re-opened an investigation into alleged improper grade changes for former Kansas University basketball player Darrell Arthur at South Oak Cliff High School, Dallas TV station WFAA reported Thursday.

School superintendent Michael Hinojosa said he will ask for an outside independent review of the academic records of Arthur and his former teammates.

"I am going to reopen the investigation to have a legal review, an independent legal review," Hinojosa told WFAA reporter Brett Shipp.

"There are too many questions at this time for us to just leave it alone," Hinojosa added. "That's why we are going to ask for an outside independent review, legal review."

An investigation into a grade change for another athlete resulted in South Oak Cliff forfeiting the 2006 state basketball title. The school district, however, released a report two months ago that cleared South Oak Cliff staff and students of any further wrongdoing in the 2005 and 2007 state basketball championships.

WFAA-TV's follow-up found investigators may have failed to interview witnesses and review algebra, English and theater-arts grades received by Arthur.

"We don't know anything about it, so we have no comment," KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Thursday night after WFAA released its latest findings.

Arthur, who now plays for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, did not respond to ESPN.com's requests for comment.

Last May, grade transcripts obtained by WFAA showed Arthur with missing algebra grades on his working transcript, and his final algebra grade allegedly changed to passing.

The TV station's review of the Dallas Independent School District's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) report that dismissed any allegations involving Arthur revealed possible major omissions, the TV station says. WFAA says Winford Ashmore, the math teacher WFAA interviewed in the first story on alleged grade changing for Arthur, was never interviewed by DISD.

Instead of checking out Ashmore's concerns, WFAA says investigators dismissed them by saying Arthur "did not compete as a varsity player that year," a statement WFAA says is incorrect.

The station has said an examination of Arthur's grades revealed he should have failed an English course needed to graduate. South Oak Cliff coach James Mays has said the station's reporting Arthur's class grades in its reports has left the station subject to a lawsuit.

NCAA officials have told WFAA that if Arthur never officially graduated, his eligibility at Kansas is something that may have to be looked into. KU officials have repeatedly said they have no knowledge of specifics of the situation and have deemed it a matter for the DISD.

- WFAA's story on the matter is available at wfaa.com; portions of WFAA reporter Brett Shipp's story were used in this report.

Comments

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

The NCAA cleared him, so KU will certainly fight this and the NCAA can expect a hefty lawsuit if they try to penalize us over this.

October 10, 2008 at 3:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Displayhawk (anonymous) says...

Here's a novel idea, Mr. Hinojosa .......How about you finally drop all of this crap, and take the money that you were going to spend on an "independent legal review" and "re-opened" investigation, and use it to better educate the students in the future!
My question is .....By re-opening this investigation, how does that benefit either the student-athletes in question or the student-athletes attending school there now???

October 10, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

again?

October 10, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

swishymcjayhawk (anonymous) says...

good lord. just let this die for crying out loud.

October 10, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Two questions...First, why was the initial "investigation" so half assed in the first place? How do you not even interview the guy making the accusations? Now we have to deal with it for another couple months. Second, why is this particular TV station pushing so hard for this?

October 10, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdomine (anonymous) says...

The interesting thing is, the Dallas School District is more than $60 million in debt due to the fact that administrators can barely add, and yet they want to incur the additional expense of re-opening this investigation.
The entire thing is driven by the Belo news organization (WFAA and Dallas Morning News) and the disgruntled teachers. Belo's biggest "smoking gun" in this latest round was that neither teacher making accusations was interviewed for the original review. DISD superintendant is being bullied into this latest investigation.

The great news is I pay a boat-load of taxes for a school district I can't send my kids to because their marksmanship is not sufficient to protect themselves from the rampant crime and substandard educating. I remember a few years ago my childrens' private school was put into lock-down because the DISD school across the street had just had a student knifed. I pay more in tuition for my kids private school than I did for my KU education. I attended Lawrence ISD and most of my classmates were the children of KU professors and deans. Talk about the good ole days.

October 10, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

This is starting to get pretty bad for KU. I can't believe this story has been brought back up to National attention again by ESPN. This thing just won't die. I don't know what the truth is and probably some of you who live closer to Dallas have more details. I just know one thing; this doesn't look good to have a second investigation. I know people keep saying, "No way this will affect KU", but I would never hold the NCAA to a high standard. I know the NCAA cleared us, but of all organizations out there; they would find a way to strip the accolades. Yes, KU recruited this kid, but if they knew nothing of the past AND THE NCAA CLEARED ARTHUR TO PLAY D-I BASKETBALL; then I don't know how KU could be held accountable. KU could because similar situations happened to Michigan, but the coaches knew about those scenarios. Never has a championship been taken away, but you can always count on the NCAA to try and set an example. If, worst case scenario, this does play out for the worst, you think the NCAA would put it's own department (The Clearinghouse) on probation or strip them of the right to admit kids? Ha! No way will that ever happen, but KU losing it's Championship might and could happen. We'll see.

October 10, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

I was so happy when this was over. Watch out tomorrow for another article stirring the Collins mess up again! Then what after that? Chalmers foot was on the line when he shot that three? Everyone loves to dump on us. But they can kiss the ring.

October 10, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

imnotpaulpierce (anonymous) says...

That would be the biggest pile of B.S. in the history of the NCAA if it stripped KU of its national championship.

The only way I could see that happening is if the NCAA could prove that KU knew of the grade issues.

October 10, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

AgHawk (anonymous) says...

I live in the Dallas area. Dallas Independent School District (DISD) needs to be worried about their budget that is $63 million over budget due to an "oversight" instead of investigating a man that is in the NBA and will never set foot in a classroom again!

October 10, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUbsee69 (anonymous) says...

Hey Keegan ... NOW the sky is falling ... the sky is falling.

October 10, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

Network sweeps seem to come earlier and earlier every year. They are starting to resemble the stores that put out their Christmas stuff before Halloween.

I agree with the posters above: If the schools devoted that much energy and money to teaching their students instead of this kind of stuff, everyone would be better off. I also agree with those that feel this SHOULD be on the head of the clearinghouse if something is amiss. What is its purpose otherwise?

October 10, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Topside (anonymous) says...

My question would be how did he do at KU? I think that if he passed an ACT/SAT and had passing marks at a NCAA college just forget it. Its not like he really is some dummy who is a total fraud. He may not have even really known the situation. Surely he passed enough classes to equal a GED anyway. So I guess I'm saying the NCAA cleared him....he remained in good academic standing while at KU....who gives a rip what happend in High School.

October 10, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Hawklin (anonymous) says...

This is all the doing of Memphis the week of Late Night.

October 10, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

If the NCAA cleared Arthur to play why isn't the NCAA being investigated, and if anyone is to be punished why isn't it the NCAA? Take some of the hefty salaries their executives make and give them to Wall Street. It needs them along with the $700 billion.

October 10, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BoulderHawk (anonymous) says...

Displayhawk, could not have said it better myself

October 10, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Brock (anonymous) says...

DISD's budget deficit is actually $84 million. I can't believe that they would waste one more dollar on South Oak Cliff's athletic skullduggery...

October 10, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

BoulderHawk (anonymous) says...

This should have no impact to KU.
The NCAA clearing house judged Arthur to
be eligible. It ends there.

October 10, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

HowMuchRice (anonymous) says...

If there is corruption in the education system of our youth, it needs to be exposed no matter what the cost is.
Just because it may affect your precious basketball team doesn't mean it's not worth getting to the bottom of.

October 10, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUdude101 (anonymous) says...

Here we go again.

October 10, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dnvrhawk (anonymous) says...

How would it have any effect on KU? Helloooooo? The NCAA was the one that cleared him. This is a high school issue and something that the NCAA needs to address if they're not doing their job properly.

October 10, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

chicagohawk52 (anonymous) says...

I think too we are all forgetting that Arthur is someone who almost went to Baylor because his mother and grandmother were more concerned about him getting an education rather than playing basketball. So why in the world would the people closest to him be under the impression that he could succeed at a high academic level if he was not doing any work in high school and grades were just being given to him? I know that when I was in high school if i received an "A" and should have received a "D" my parents would have known!

The implication too that our National Championship could be stripped is ridiculous because as everyone else has said, the NCAA cleared him!!! We had two players this year miss the first two weeks of class beacuse of the NCAA and yet a student athlete that was cleared with seemingly no problems has the allegations surrounding him. What is wrong with this picture? The NCAA makes kids miss class while they determine if they are eligible to attend class? I don't get it...

October 10, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

MichAveJHawk (anonymous) says...

HowMuchRice-
Don't worry, it won't affect our program. Its been said numerous times, but for your benefit I will repeat: The high school graduated him and the NCAA cleared him. If they got it wrong, or if there's corruption in the high school, its not our problem. And honestly, you don't need to spend a boat load of money to see if there might be corruption...there is. There you go. Where's my check? What a waste of money. Is this Hinojosa character running for President? His ability to allocate resources is the stuff of ole G.W. Must be a Texas thing. Spend that money on fixing the problem, because you know it exists, and if there's any left over, try and provide a decent teachers' salary. That might affect the level of education that those kids are receiving. I'd be super pissed if I had a kid in that school district. This is frivolous.

October 10, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

HawkSC (anonymous) says...

I'd have lost my job, if I did such a clearly incompetent job as they did in TX.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!

October 10, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

MichAveJHawk (anonymous) says...

Oh, if anybody is interested in some real breaking news, Scout.com is reporting that Thomas Robinson has committed to KU. Beat out Memphis for this guy. He looks like a Darnell Jackson type kid, but he's maybe coming in at a skill level a little above where Jackson came in as a freshman. Nice pick up.

http://kansas.scout.com/2/799550.html

October 10, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mvjayhawk (anonymous) says...

the only way it affects KU...and it truly is the ONLY way...is that if KU coaches can be shown they knew he was in questionable academic standing and then looked the other way....or if Arthur knew, and communicated it to KU coaches and they reported nothing.
just like it's already been said the NCAA cleared him to play...and he was in good academic standing at Kansas.
why have a 2nd investigation anyway? and this whole story is from that same TV station....why won't they do an investigation and report a finding. it's all "they didn't do this" or interview this person....it sounds like somebody at that station has a personal agenda in all of this.

October 10, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Who plays at South Oak Cliff HS now? Do they have anyone committed to go to any D1 schools? Or do they have any graduates playing at D1 schools now?

They are the ones who need to be concerned. Certainly not Kansas. I echo the comments of everyone who has stated the obvious... Arthur was cleared by the NCAA to play, period.

October 10, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kujayhawk (anonymous) says...

Yawn. Let it go already.

October 10, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUFan90 (anonymous) says...

Agree kujayhawk. Nothing to see here...move along...move along.

It's been said 100 times. The NCAA clearinghouse cleared him. KU did absolutely nothing questionable here. There is absolutely no way any of this impacts KUs title. You can't be punished for following NCAA guidelines to the letter of the law. The NCAA clearinghouse might catch heat, but not KU.

October 10, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

areyouserious (anonymous) says...

WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

October 10, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DallasHawk (anonymous) says...

DISD is wasting money on this, meanwhile firing 600 Dallas School District employees over a week ago. What kind of sense does that make?????????

October 10, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

chicagoeddie (anonymous) says...

if they want attention or to be on the news then why dont they look into the other scandalous things school districts do with their money like looking into his budget and see what he spends money on... loser....

October 10, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

The NCAA clearinghouse cleared him. There will be no effect on KU. It really is that simple -- KU will not be affected. Now, from Arthur's perspective, he should sue the heck out of that TV station.

October 10, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayhawkPurist (anonymous) says...

I echo the comments of all those who have not allowed this witch hunt to elevate their blood pressure: the NCAA Clearinghouse cleared Arthur and KU has maintained they had no knowledge of any alleged wrongoing. Case closed. There is no way the NCAA wants to open up the can of worms that is vetting the academic integrity of high schools, especially that of alleged rogue teachers.

I suggest we all do something practical: abstain from clicking on any more "Arthur Investigation" stories until/unless anything actually noteworthy occurs. The less readers the less advertising revenue, the less advertising revenue the less incentive to continue to report this non-story.

October 10, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

MichAveJHawk (anonymous) says...

Word up.

October 10, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Hinojosa states his goal of being the countries top school district by 2010, in compliance with the stated goals of "Dallas Achieves!"

http://www.dallasisd.org/about/super.htm

http://www.dallasisd.org/about/dallas...

The re-opening of this case is not a witch hunt for Arthur or KU or the NCAA. It's simply a measure to ensure the improvement of the DISD. If you ask me, ultimately it's a good thing. We could use a little more backbone in our education system.

October 10, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Arthurs having a rough time.

1. Stock slipped in the draft.
2. Disciplined for impropieties at NBA meetings.
3. Case into grade changes reopened.

I wonder how much all of this gets to him.

October 10, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

Arthur,

Go talk to Darnell Jackson about persevering through tough times. You can get through this...

October 10, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

afilmer (anonymous) says...

if anything comes out of this, it's that the clearinghouse is a joke.

October 10, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mmlaughsatnerds (anonymous) says...

"The re-opening of this case is not a witch hunt for Arthur or KU or the NCAA. It's simply a measure to ensure the improvement of the DISD. If you ask me, ultimately it's a good thing. We could use a little more backbone in our education system."

I concur absolutely more backbone is needed in our education system. But what good does accomplishing a re-investigation of this actually do? Does it "help" any of the kids who are currently struggling in the DSID's substandard school district? The school district is supposedly going to lay off 600 + school teachers because of their budget. I can't imagine that this independent investigation, if it is worth anything, will cost less than $35K worth of time and resources. So, now the likelyhood is the district will lay off 601+school teachers.
So, let's say it was found Arthur's grade was changed, and some of the fallout that could ensue from that does. Awesome, the big athletic machine is put in its place. Does that help Arthur, who was all of 14 when the timeline of these allegations began? Does that ensure any more compliance for their athletic program, one that has already been stripped of a title and is already under close scrutiny?
I know that this is supposedly a big statement that the DSID finally takes academics seriously. Perhaps it will inspire teachers and students. And if that happens, I agree that's a good thing. I just doubt it will, though. I know their wet dream would be if South Oak and KU were stripped of their titles. But as I've asked often, what good does that do anyone? Why not strip Oklahoma State of the games it won when Dexter Manley played there. He admitted he was illiterate when he "graduated".

October 10, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nobody1793 (anonymous) says...

Fire Mangino!!!

October 10, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

In a related story, a new investigation has been launched to determine if Kennedy actually won the 1960 election.

October 11, 2008 at 4:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )