Northridge Report Exonerates Athletic Program of Racial Bias

On the day the Cal State Northridge athletic program was exonerated of racial bias in a university report, Athletic Director Bob Hiegert chose to placate rather than celebrate.

“Now that the process has run its course, it’s time for us to move on,” he said.

On Friday, more than five months after leaders of two black-student groups leveled charges of racism against the athletic program, the school released an “assessment report,” authored by its Athletics Oversight Advisory Board.

The report stated principally that the academic and financial struggles of African-American athletes were the outcome of “inadequate financing at all levels” of the university, not the result of racism.

“Many of the problems faced by minority athletes are not racially defined, but are faced by most athletes in common,” wrote James Sefton and Barbara Swerkes, co-chairs of the 11-member advisory board, composed of faculty, staff and students.

The tone of the report paralleled the athletic program’s party line since May, when a university task-force study issued failing grades for the program’s financial support and academic advisement of African-American athletes.

Among other recommendations, the advisory board agreed with the task force’s call for improved academic advisement, a voucher system for disbursing financial aid, and the need for greater ethnic diversity on the coaching staff.

However, the board stopped short of placing blame for shortcomings on the athletic program.

On academic advisement, the report quoted a spring, 1992, administrative proposal stating, “No real organizational model exists; no accountability has been assigned; no resources have been designated” to provide a comprehensive, university-wide program.

The board recommended that a full-time academic adviser be hired for athletes, but due to budget constraints within the state university system the position will probably remain part time.

Although graduation rates were termed “unacceptably low,” charges that the athletic department showed a lack of concern for the academic progress of African-American athletes were unfounded, the report said.

Statistics show that black students are less than one-third as likely to graduate at Northridge than their white peers.

The report placed a priority on a review of Northridge’s financial-aid system and advised that the school would “greatly benefit” if a voucher system was implemented. It also suggested that students receiving financial aid be required to attend a workshop on budgeting.

Hiegert lauded the board’s report saying, “Their suggestions and our actions will make things better for all athletes.” Leaders of African-American organizations at Northridge could not be reached for comment.

Northridge already has scheduled a daylong orientation for new athletes and their parents Aug. 30.