Charles B. Reed, the chancellor of the California State University system, wrote this commentary for The Bee explaining why he thought Fresno State had to fire Stacy Johnson-Klein as women's basketball coach. The commentary essentially lays out Fresno State's case, which was made to a Fresno County Superior Court jury. Earlier this month, the jury found that Johnson-Klein was discriminated against in her firing and she was awarded $19.1 million.
Reed, who oversees all CSU campuses, does not make reference to the two other high-profile sexual discrimination cases against Fresno State. A jury awarded fired women's volleyball coach Lindy Vivas $5.85 million (a judge reduced that to $4.52 million) and Fresno State settled with former associate athletic director Diane Milutinovich for $3.5 million.
Reed does say the problems in the athletic department are in the past and he gives a vote of confidence to Fresno State President John Welty: "There have been many changes in the athletic program at Fresno State over the past three years. It was President Welty who hired a new athletic director with much experience, including with gender equity issues, and who has already taken many dramatic steps to move the athletic program forward."
Reed is correct in pointing out Johnson-Klein's many serious transgressions, but this case was about whether her case was handled the same way the university handled the cases of male coaches. Reed says it was, a jury said it wasn't.
I am always amazed at the insensitivity of officials like Reed. He seems almost oblivious to what is going on down here. The State College officials are rather far removed from the democratic process. We don't vote for them every few years! You can see the result of letting them create an entrenched bureaucracy.
Thank you Chancellor Reed for putting things in the right perspective! Stacey Johnson-Klein's termination was not handled like Ray Lopes but Ray Lopes was not mistreating his players, abusing drugs, lying and asking people to lie for him. His players and assistant coaches stood by him and his character, Johnson-Klein's coaches and her players had the courage to come forward, I still find it odd that Coach K couldn't find a single player in all her years of coaching to defend her as a coach or a person for that matter.
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
Reed, chancellor of the California State University, says: "I also believe it would have been irresponsible for California State University to have settled Ms. Johnson-Klein's case under the circumstances for the seven-figure numbers that she was demanding." Hmm, $900,000 or $19.1 million? With math skills like this, Reed is probably a graduate of Fresno Unified.
His explanation tells me that the discrimination is ok with him and he is probably just like the rest of them. I believe the 12 jurors knew what they were doing.
His statements only justify and embolden more people to sue the School system.
The money isnt coming out of reed's pocket, he will still keep his job if not get a raise next year.
Now there is another discrimation case against FSU and a male coach that just wanted a pretty assistant. We are people not trophies.
Oh for crying out loud, Merry Christmas again to all the same people! (Joke)
1. Long Beach is "down there", so Fresno would be "up here".
2. Settlement: Here is a hint: SJK's LAWYER threw out that $950,000 figure.
What makes you think that the settlement negotiations that were held by the judge's order before the trial only contained this particular number and not a host of other terms as well?
Does every person here only believe what the press tells them?
Good luck trying to buy a car if you don't know the dickering process.
3. Comparison to Lopes is unrealistic. Lopes at least admitted some guilt and cooperated with an investigation.
According to the U SJK would never admit her problem with medications, prescribed or not, the amount is now a matter of court record.
Denial Denial Denial.
How can you get someone in an EAP or 12-step program if they refuse to admit they have a problem?
Then all these other people who "never saw it". Well, you just don't tell your friends and neighbors you have one, especially if you're deluding yourself into thinking that if they are prescribed, it's still OK to take that much.
Her players and other people in the AD saw the strange behavior and reported it.
SO what do you do next?
FIRE THE COACH IMMEDIATELY to protect the players, with all due pay and bonuses, and nothing extra for not cooperating.
Unfortunately, it was done too quickly and not to the letter of standard procedure, which is what the jury based their decision on.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good night. I really do mean that, by the way.
Charles Reed (Dec. 20, 2003) is right that CSU and especially Fresno State must put student welfare first. But one needs to ask why Reed selectively avoids mention of the Vivas and Milutinovich million dollar awards.
Who was watching out for student athlete welfare when Vivas, a competent, bright, and winning coach was terminated? Where were Reed and his bird of a feather, Welty, at that time? Reed's silence on that issue is telling.
In the Milutinovich settlement, it appears that Reed and company were only too willing to settle for 3.5 million dollars. Isn't that an admission that her case was too strong for Reed and Welty to risk going to trial. What embarrassing errors in judgment and actions were these two managers trying to hide?
Furthermore, Reed’s selective memory conveniently omits his spring 2003 comments stating that he had been working with Welty to fix Fresno State’s athletic problems “for the last three years or more,” as reported by Bill McEwen on Dec. 16, 2007. Perhaps there is just as much reason to examine CSU Chancellor Reed’s participation in the problems at Fresno State as is currently being assigned to Welty.
Finally, one needs to ask why Reed and Welty were so short-sighted in their selection of attorneys to defend CSU. Why, after the Vivas trial, couldn't they recognize the obvious talent of Dan Siegel?
Can this short-sightedness be due in part to a combination of arrogance, and the sycophants they appoint to administrative positions in their entourages. Individuals selected for their fealty rarely offer independent opinions or contrarian advice to the boss. An alternative explanation may rest with the thin scholarship, and resultant lack of deep thinking of such administrators/managers, when compared to true scholars ELECTED to lead the nation’s top universities.
Hopefully, State Senator Dean Florez will examine these and other underlying problems, current and past, plus push for corrective action. The senator needn't hold up the CSU budget because of "leadership" failures, but he must probe deeply and diligently if student welfare and academics in CSU are to have real meaning. He and the legislature are required to hold Reed and others accountable in ways that protect both the university and the taxpayer.
I do not belive any of the students were in any danger from SJK. She was a good coach that was producing a winning team and brought more people to come to games than ever before. I have known people with addictions and they need help to see that they have a problem. Just because she asked for medications doesn't mean they had to be given to her. The FSU attorneys did a shoddy job of proving their case so they lost. I hope SJK will get the help she needs if she does have an addiction as I would hope for anyone. Addictions take over lives and unless you have ever had one you would not understand the power it can have on someone. Forgiveness is needed in order to move on and get over all the hatred that has been shown. From the bottom of my heart I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.