Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause")

[LakeJack]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

One of the articles linked in the thread said that the Becky's supervisor reported directly to the president. Her supervisor turned Becky's yearly employment evaluations into the president. Would make it somewhat difficult for the supervisor to start making accusations against Becky without the fear of repercussions now wouldn't it?

Would me much different if Becky was married to the dean of one of the colleges.

Jenny Sell doesn't report to Justin directly - but - like I said glass houses - be careful

http://www.gojacks.com/ViewArticle.d...B_OEM_ID=15000

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Jenny Sell doesn't report to Justin directly - but - like I said glass houses - be careful

http://www.gojacks.com/ViewArticle.d...B_OEM_ID=15000

Not sure what you mean by "be careful", but I haven't done anything remotely close to what Becky is alledged to have done. I also have not commented on what she did, I think people can make up their own minds on that. The only comments I have made have been related to the fact that Becky's immediate supervisor reported on her performance directly to the president (her husband). If you think that's an acceptable situation that's fine, but I don't.

Also, comparing an academic advisor to a basketball coach is comparing an apple to an orange.

[Nidaros]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Not sure what you mean by "be careful", but I haven't done anything remotely close to what Becky is alledged to have done. I also have not commented on what she did, I think people can make up their own minds on that. The only comments I have made have been related to the fact that Becky's immediate supervisor reported on her performance directly to the president (her husband). If you think that's an acceptable situation that's fine, but I don't.

Also, comparing an academic advisor to a basketball coach is comparing an apple to an orange.

That is a correct statement. rep pts. given. Academic Advisor seems like a good fit. Since has a direct voice to the AD, she can communicate what is in the best interests of the student athletes. I also notice from the directory that Laurie Melhum Johnston has apparently become a stay at home mom. She formally was a academic advisor.

[slosho]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

That is a correct statement. rep pts. given. Academic Advisor seems like a good fit. Since has a direct voice to the AD, she can communicate what is in the best interests of the student athletes. I also notice from the directory that Laurie Melhum Johnston has apparently become a stay at home mom. She formally was a academic advisor.

what else is very interesting about this nepotism is the fact that this was not an associate atletic director position until Jenny had it.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Jenny Sell makes a whopping $38k and, according to the state, her title is Athletic Academic Coordinator (did that change?) According to her bio she is very, very well qualified for the position she holds. The full-time staff in the academic area of athletics has doubled with the addition of Jenny Sell, which seems to me to be a good thing. Sometimes at a place like South Dakota State (or Wichita State) that many people do not put on their lists of desirable destinations, you need to take advantage of uniquely qualified people who are there and who want to be there.

Full disclosure: My wife works as a professor in the school of communication that I run here at WSU. My boss (Dean of Liberal Arts & Sciences) is her official supervisor and, in fact, she is probably negatively impacted by our relationship in that we have agreed that she will be last in line for any perqs (summer teaching, technology, stipends) that I control. My guess is that Justin and Jenny also everything they can to minimize even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Jenny Sell makes a whopping $38k and, according to the state, her title is Athletic Academic Coordinator (did that change?) According to her bio she is very, very well qualified for the position she holds. The full-time staff in the academic area of athletics has doubled with the addition of Jenny Sell, which seems to me to be a good thing. Sometimes at a place like South Dakota State (or Wichita State) that many people do not put on their lists of desirable destinations, you need to take advantage of uniquely qualified people who are there and who want to be there.

Full disclosure: My wife works as a professor in the school of communication that I run here at WSU. My boss (Dean of Liberal Arts & Sciences) is her official supervisor and, in fact, she is probably negatively impacted by our relationship in that we have agreed that she will be last in line for any perqs (summer teaching, technology, stipends) that I control. My guess is that Justin and Jenny also everything they can to minimize even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Great post and reinforces my point. Becky's supervisor should not report on her performance directly to her husband (especially since he was the top official at the university). A situation like that would make it incredibly difficult to bring up any issues with her performance or conduct without the fear of retribution.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Agreed. I was responding to the comment right above mine that, at least as I read it, seemed to suggest something nefarious about Jenny Sell's position.

[slosho]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Agreed. I was responding to the comment right above mine that, at least as I read it, seemed to suggest something nefarious about Jenny Sell's position.

Moreover I was trying to point out how it looks, or could be perceived by others (perhaps Laurie). Gov Dugaard's son got a job with the PUC shortly after he had became Governor. Chris is brilliant and was fully qualified, but it was perceived poorly by others.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Moreover I was trying to point out how it looks, or could be perceived by others (perhaps Laurie). Gov Dugaard's son got a job with the PUC shortly after he had became Governor. Chris is brilliant and was fully qualified, but it was perceived poorly by others.

Yeah, I get that. But you said something about associate AD, as if Justin had not only hired, but promoted her. That's not her title, according to the state. And I'm pretty sure she makes less than Laurie did in that position. My point was that sometimes husband and wife come as a set, and there are ways to avoid problems. You can't do anything about people's perceptions, but you can minimize the "hooks" they will use to make those calls.

[slosho]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Yeah, I get that. But you said something about associate AD, as if Justin had not only hired, but promoted her. That's not her title, according to the state. And I'm pretty sure she makes less than Laurie did in that position. My point was that sometimes husband and wife come as a set, and there are ways to avoid problems. You can't do anything about people's perceptions, but you can minimize the "hooks" they will use to make those calls.

While I think I know where you likely get your information, the state's website is not always up to date. My understanding is that this title change is something that has happened within July. Its one of those slippery slope deals, an I'm honestly not bothered by it (not that my opinion has ever counted with the athletic Dept.) but obviously given the wrong set of circumstances it could end poorly. Likely in ways I do not conceive.

[jackmd]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

I could go on and on about what happened with Coach Francis and others in similar positions that feel compelled to promote their believes at the expense of others. No doubt a coach is a leader and should expect to have some influence on their player's lives off the playing surface and outside the locker room. However, that influence can never be motivated by a belief that a player's views or lifestyle choices are unacceptable or less desirable than the coaches.

Coach Francis experienced some very harmful things when she was a child, she has done her best to confront those things. I can't help but wonder if those experiences shaped her personality in a way that lead to the behavior we are now being made aware was occurring with her players. For all the credit she received for speaking out about her trials and tribulations I think the players that were willing to speak out about her inappropriate behavior deserve the same.

It is unfortunate the many young women were harmed but I am certain that Coach Francis also had a very positive impact on others. Hopefully a lesson is learned and a better person emerges.

[Nidaros]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

I could go on and on about what happened with Coach Francis and others in similar positions that feel compelled to promote their believes at the expense of others. No doubt a coach is a leader and should expect to have some influence on their player's lives off the playing surface and outside the locker room. However, that influence can never be motivated by a belief that a player's views or lifestyle choices are unacceptable or less desirable than the coaches.

Coach Francis experienced some very harmful things when she was a child, she has done her best to confront those things. I can't help but wonder if those experiences shaped her personality in a way that lead to the behavior we are now being made aware was occurring with her players. For all the credit she received for speaking out about her trials and tribulations I think the players that were willing to speak out about her inappropriate behavior deserve the same.

It is unfortunate the many young women were harmed but I am certain that Coach Francis also had a very positive impact on others. Hopefully a lesson is learned and a better person emerges.

One of you best posts to date, and there have been many that have said a great deal. I think Filbert suggested that a victims of crimes do not make good jury members and this seems to be the theme of Becky. If I was accused of a homicide, the last person in the world that I would want to have sit on my jury is Nancy Grace. She does have a great TV program, but the hurt of her experience comes through loud and clear very often.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

Misguided? JFC. You think the people that participated the Crusades or Jihads did it for pleasure or sport? No, they thought what they were doing was right.

Look at the definition of evil according to Merriam-Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evil

You don't think what she did to those players could be characterized as "morally reprehensible"? "Causing harm"? Get the **** out of here.

Misguided???? Look at what she did:

Fixated on their weights, to a point that photos were taken of players in their sports bras and Spandex to chart body changes and that some players developed eating issues.

That ALONE is enough to put her in the evil camp. That is a ****ing disgusting thing to do to another person, especially when in a position of power.

I know you aren't trying to defend her, filbert, but c'mon.

Please. This is DI college athletics. Weight is something every coach in the country monitors. Wonder how Coach Nagy might react if a player came into camp at a weight he didn't like... oh wait, I've heard first hand stories about that exact situation. It wasn't pleasant for the player. In fact, the story could even be interpreted as straying from mental into the realm of physical abuse (if you were a sensitive parent). Vomiting was involved. But that's guys, so you know no big deal.

I distinctly remember a spot during the OU/SDSU men's game detailing the success of athletic training at Oakland, a spot which included pictures of several before and after shots of Oakland men's basktball players (may have had their shirts off? don't remember). Was Francis responsible for this as well? ON LIVE TV DURING A REGIONAL CABLE BROADCAST. Is that really that different than taking pictures of the girls players in sports bras and using it for motivation??? Nobody thinks a skinny freshman might have been pressured/badgered into putting on weight? Any chance he had to look at pictures of his skinny self all summer long for "motivation" in the weight room??? Think of the mental damage done!

Francis coached at a school located in the worst city in America. Holy hell, she told kids to go to church and showed christian videos to (many of which grew up in the most dangerous city in America). What a monster.

The university is very quiet about this whole thing. I think there is probably quite a bit more to this than coach likes church, was obsessed with weight, and was an all around meany.

[zooropa]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

The university is very quiet about this whole thing.

SDSU was very quiet about the circumstances surrounding Oien's departure. A responsible employer does not talk to the press about the reasons why a person was fired.

[boxerboy]

Re: Becky Francis "retires" at Oakland (update: "fired for cause&quot

I understand SF rabbit fan and agree, with much he has written, but calling Rochester Hills, Mi the worst city in America, better inform a bunch of millionaires there so they can get out.