Hiegert Questions the Timing of Charges : CSUN: Athletic director notes that Black Student Union’s accusations of racism coincide with departure of Cleary.

Bob Hiegert, the beleaguered athletic director at Cal State Northridge whose resignation has been called for by the school’s Black Student Union, said Friday that charges of racism against him and his department have been carefully planned to coincide with the departure of university President James W. Cleary, a staunch supporter of Hiegert.

The call for Hiegert’s resignation repeatedly has been issued by Karen Brannon, head of the BSU, despite an exhaustive study by a university committee to probe the allegations of racism. The 78-page report did not recommend Hiegert’s resignation.

Hiegert, along with associate athletic director Judy Brame, athletic department business manager Debby DeAngelis and athletic development director Paul Bubb, on Friday released a 29-page response to the initial report. The response was presented to Cleary and it will be forwarded to the school’s Athletic Oversight Committee, which will issue its recommendations during the summer, according to Hiegert, the school’s athletic director for 14 years.

The controversy comes just weeks before the departure of Cleary, who will be succeeded as the university’s president by Blenda J. Wilson. Wilson, who is black, is currently the chancellor of the University of Michigan at Dearborn. Hiegert said he fears the controversy could result in his dismissal.

“The timing of this protest has been carefully orchestrated,” Hiegert said. “Do I have a personal concern about my status and the transition? What do you think? Of course, I am concerned. But Dr. Wilson is a person who likes to have information before she makes a decision, and I certainly hope she does that in this issue,” he said.

“I’m not clear, still, why Ms. Brannon wants my resignation. If it’s some kind of ploy to tag a name in the athletic department as a racist and get lots of media attention, then she’s accomplished that. But I don’t think she’s the Lone Ranger in this. It has been pretty well orchestrated by the adviser to the BSU, Webster Moore. He has been at her side through all of this.”

Moore, a faculty member, was unavailable for comment. He served on the committee that looked at the charges made earlier this year by Brannon. Among those concerns were inadequate academic advisement for black student-athletes, low graduation rates for that group, the need for more black coaches and advisers and a school-funded meal plan for its athletes.

Hiegert makes no apologies for the athletic program. “I, and the athletic department, have done an excellent job bringing the athletic program to where it is now,” he said. “There may be problems on this campus and there may be problems within the athletic department, but they are financial problems. They are not racially driven problems.”