Former UNC Official Cites Loophole Used to Extend Football Eligibility

The University of North Carolina's graduate school admitted students who would not have otherwise received admission so they could continue participating in intercollegiate athletics, claims a former admissions officer at the school.

Cheryl Thomas, who served as the graduate school's admissions director from 2002 to 2010, supplied information on the athletes to Dan Kane of The News & Observer. Thomas claims to have helped former football player Michael Waddell and a number of other players received admittance despite poor grades and other academic problems. She also claims to have helped former basketball player Justin Knox at the request of the athletic program.

“You can’t turn down thousands of people and say yes to one just so he can play basketball,” Thomas told Kane.

Claims from Thomas will only serve to exacerbate the ongoing troubles with North Carolina athletics. The university is already being sued by former student-athletes over malfeasant academic practices, which allegedly included fake classes through the African studies department.

An investigation in 2012 revealed grades were changed, fake classes were created and a number of other things were done in order to boost athlete grade point averages. Thomas' tenure with the school includes that period of academic impropriety, and Kane's report indicates the graduate program played a part. Waddell in particular is claimed to have "pulled down" the GPA of the graduate department after missing classes and exams. 

North Carolina has not commented on the report at this time.

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