David N. Camaione: UNC must fix wrongs

Morgan Randall’s opinion, in his June 27 letter “UNC players not at fault in scandal” citing student-athletes enrolled in bogus courses are victims and should be not blamed, is not only myopic but naive.

Having admitted the courses were insufficient, how does he feel about accepting fraudulent credit or watered down requirements that other students worked so hard to attain honestly? How can he look into the eyes of his nonathletic student friends and say he earned that grade? Should he not adhere to the same rigorous standards as all other students?

Claiming the university to be at fault for creating these bogus classes is accurate. But saying that working hard on the gridiron gave him some sort of privilege to cheat the academic process is unworthy; he was an opportunist, not a victim. He was as culpable as his coaches and advisees and could be called a co-conspirator.

The registrar’s office should examine the transcripts of every student enrolled in these classes. After erasing the “unearned grades,” those students failing to meet the minimal total credit hours or GPA for graduation should have their degrees rescinded and returned.

That’s what great universities do; they correct their wrongs.

This story was originally published June 30, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "David N. Camaione: UNC must fix wrongs."