The 2017-2018 school year brought out turbulent news from within the University of Idaho administration.
In early March, reports surfaced the university’s athletic department mishandled a sexual assault complaint from 2013. Most of the blame fell to former Athletics Director Rob Spear as he failed to adequately respond to the complaint and fully understand university policies.
Students and UI community members were quick to react. A Students for Accountability and Safety group emerged on campus, calling for Spear’s swift and immediate removal. An emotionally charged April ASUI meeting, in which ASUI asked Spear to step down in a 10-5 vote, seemed to end the school year, as Rob Spear attributed his poor handling of the situation to little Title IX training in 2013.
The process to remove Spear’s connection to the university after that end-of-year meeting was nothing but swift.
Idaho State Board of Education bureaucracy trudged along as the summer drifted by, with little to no word on the status of Spear’s employment at UI.
Meanwhile, the university conducted an outsourced investigation into the mishandlings. That investigation, spearheaded by Patricia Olsson and Dan Bebee, found that there was inadequate training from the university at that time, but that Spear responded inadequately to the sexual harassment claims and found his actions to be insensitive.
SBOE’s decision to terminate Spear’s contract came Thursday morning — a long awaited decision for the whole of the UI community. According to SBOE wording on the decision, The termination is in “convenience” with Spear’s contract. He will continue being paid until Feb. 17, 2020.
It’s understandable the decision took time — these kinds of decisions need special attention and care. Still, students, alumni, faculty and UI community members stood by, waiting months while Spear was compensated for a job others took on for the bulk of last semester.
The university can only learn from this drawn out situation and move on in the interest of all those who were affected by Spear’s misguided actions.
When the search begins for a new athletics director, the administration must understand they are not just hiring for one position, they are hiring for a culture overhaul within the department. The university cannot afford this to happen again. Valued students should not have to deal with a situation similar.
UI students were quick to ask for what they want — a transparent and caring administration. Now it’s time for the university to respond.
— HS