The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "athletic department" ...
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Trouble in Jayhawk Nation
A look into the University of Kansas' athletic program reveals a corrupt system. The Star reveals that the university's athletic director was paid an exorbitant salary and also uncovers connections between university officials and the felon who illegally resold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of basketball tickets.
Tags: University of Kansas; athletic department; ticket resale; basketball; travel expenses; salary
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Trip to nowhere
“At least seven college sports teams, along with parents and boosters, lost a combined $544,000 in payments to a travel company”. This company scheduled a number of trips for these teams, which they never took because the company either cancelled or never booked the trip. The owner of the company denies any wrong doings and would not give an explanation to the teams, parents, and boosters as to where their money went.
Tags: Transports Athletics; Dale Brannan; transportation; financial; schools; universities; athletic departments; sports; athletic director
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NCAA: Mixed Messages
The phrase “student-athlete” has been used for a number of years, but recently it seems unsuitable for college athletics. In this series, a number of issues are spotlighted and they include “academics, the arms race, television money, the use of likenesses and images, and the myth of the four-year scholarship”. The main purpose of this series was to display the recent activities of college athletics and let you decide if the phrase “student-athlete” still applies.
Tags: athletic department; FOIA; Florida State; Rutgers University; sports; networks; money; grades; classroom; education
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Risky business; Bus safety an issue for colleges
The investigation found that "at least 85 Division I universities used charter bus companies during 2007 and 2008 with deficient federal safety ratings." Further, "about 35 have used companies with an overall conditional rating, which mean they have a more serious record of infractions." A number of things contributed to account for the companies’ bad safety records, these includes crashes, speeding tickets, unqualified drivers, and worn out vehicles.
Tags: FOIA; athletics; athletic department; transportation; sports; teams; travel; inspections; operations
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Secrecy 101
"Universities hide information about their athletics departments behind a student-privacy law designed to keep grades private." Further, it hides athletes, who have done a number of unethical and some illegal activities. Also, coaches are using the law to hide their own bad behavior. All this information stunned the senator who created the law and he believes the "institutions are putting their own meaning into the law."
Tags: education; college; Senator James L. Buckley; NCAA; Ohio State; FOIA; Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); federal; sports; public records; censor; academics
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Football Scholarships
This story investigates how a number of football players that play for Kent State received full ride scholarships. They received these scholarships without the ACT scores to receive them or any scholarships for that matter. Furthermore, there are a number of other students who have the grades and ACT scores to receive these scholarships, but don’t because the money is all used up.
Tags: college; athletics; athletic department; students; education; football field; players; Kent State University; Director of Admissions
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University of Iowa Sexual Assault Investigation
The Press-Citizen takes a look at how the University of Iowa handled an alleged sexual assault by football players at one of the university's residence halls. Access to information of the case details were withheld by the university from the publication.
Tags: rape; athletic department; Hawkeye; Kirk Ferentz; athletes; open records request; UI;
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As Summer Ends, Heat is on in Toledo POint-Shaving Case
The University of Toledo's athletic department was the center of a point-shaving operation led by Ghazi Manni, a professional gambler and grocery store owner. Former Toledo football staf Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr. took part in the gambling ring will playing for the university.
Tags: phone tap; Mitchell Karam; Bruce Gradkowski; betting; recruiting;
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Booster U.
"This project explored the growing influences of booster clubs in college sports, detailing how private donations to the largest athletics departments have grown sharply in recent years, eating up an ever-larger share of contributions to colleges."
Tags: booster clubs; donations; college finances; athletics; contributions; fundraising
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District Lets Years of Misconduct Slide
When Scottsdale Community College fired its music department chair "for purchasing expensive microphones for the college from his son, attempting to cover up the transaction and failing to show up for an electronic music class he was paid to teach," the East Valley Tribune received a tip that the teacher was only part of a bigger story. The investigation uncovered "fraud within the Maricopa County Community College District," including "a performing arts institute that enrolled its professors and clerical employees and their relatives in classes to keep itself operating." There were also major issues in the athletic department, with thousands of dollars missing. Situations such as these had been discovered previously, but the district had taken no action.
Tags: Fraud; academic budget; athletic budget; false enrollment; college budgets