The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

8A - Monday, March 17, 2008
ATHLETES
From Page lA
those 48, nine took three or mote,
The News reported.
The article reported that some
student-athletes met with Hagen
for as little as iS minutes every two
weeks while still earningas manyas
four credits forthe class.
In a statement released yester-
day, Hagen dismissed many of the
criticisms in the article. He wrote:
"So after several months, they have
put together whatever they could
find - a net full of minnows." He
continued by writing, "This article
contains many misstatements of
fact, several blatant errors, and the
use of information completelynutof
context."
Hemadereferencetohis "40-plus
yearsteachinghundreds of doctoral
and thousands of undergraduate
students" and said he is proud of his
commitment to diversity and help-
ing students improve their experi-

ence at college. He said he would
"provide a full reply" at a later time.
Amanwhoansweredthephoneat
Hagen's home yesterday said Hagen
was in New York and unavailable
for comment.
In an interview yesterday, Associ-
ate Provost Philip Hanlon said he dis-
agreed with many of the claims made
in The Ann Arbor News article.
"There is no higher priority of the
University than the academic suc-
cess of our students," said Hanlon,
who first heard about allegations
questioning the academic integrity
df Hagen's courses in August. "We
will always find a wayto do our best
to help our students."
Hanlon said the necessary pro-
cesses were in place within the
Department of Psychology to moni-
tor the integrity of independent
study courses.
The faculty member and the stu-
dent are expected to sign a contract
before the independent study which
lays out the curricular content
of the course. describes how the

course will be graded and describes
the workload the student should
expect.
After reviewing the use of such
processes in Hagen's independent
study classes, Hanlon said Hagen
"had scrupulously followed them."
Hanlon also pointed to two sep-
arate reviews of Hagen's classes
conducted by Robert Megginson,
an associate dean of the College of
Literature, Science and the Arts,
and the DepartmentofPsychology's
Executive Committee.
The latter study found that there
was "no evidence that Hagen gave
preferential treatment in grades to
student-athletes" and that Hagen's
-grading had been "consistent with
other independent study courses in
the department."
Hanlon said the study reported
that "the content of the courses was
appropriate for psychology depart-
ment course credit" and that "there
was no evidence that students
weren't doing the necessary work."
Hanlon said he didn't agree with

many of the findings in the article
and also "really regretted that (The
AnnArbor News) targeted a faculty
member who is highly esteemed
and did so much to help undergrad-
uates."
Messages were left with 12
coaches and former or current stu-
dent-athletes yesterday. After being
asked about the article, numerous
athletes directed questions to Ath-
letic Department spokespeople.
When asked if the Compliance
Office - the University body that
ensures that the University acts
in accordance with NCAA regula-
tions - was looking into the report
about Hagen, Athletic Department
spokesman Bruce Madej said the
office looks into all aspects of a stu-
dent-athlete's life.
"Compliance has a big stake in
each and every part of the Athletic
Department," Madej said. "They
look at academics as much as travel
expenses and recruiting and all
other aspects."
Others with connections to the

Athletic Department said the story
about Hagen did not represent the
student-athlete experience they
have witnessed.
"If any of those guys followed
our kids around for a day, it would
present a balance of things that are
going on around here, if they claim
things are out of balance," said Mike
McGuire, head coach of the women's
cross country team.
According to The Ann Arbor
News, the women's cross country
team was one of two teams, the
other being women's water polo,
that hadn't had an athlete enrolled
in an independent study with Hagen
since fall 2004.
University spokeswoman Debo-
rah Greene said the University's
Office of Public Affairs and Media
Relations put up a website yester-
day in response to the allegations
leveled at Hagen to "share facts and
help put the issues into context."
- Daily Sports Editor Mark
Giannotto contributed to this report.


4a4
4%


Music & Lyrics b David Yazbek

FRIDAY MARCH 21 8 pm
SATURDAY MARCH 22 8 pm
SUNDAY MARCH 23 2 pm
Power Center for the Performing Arts
$ 7 Students with ID
$ 13 Adults
Tickets available at Michigan League Ticket Office
734.764.2538
www.umich.edu/-uac/musket
UC A
ul'tl.l 5(1 A

Book by Terrence McNally
Based on the Motion Picture Released
\% / Fox Searchlight Pictures and
/\ Written by Simon Beaufoy
Directed by Alex Bisker
Music Directed by Brian E. Buckner
Choreographed by Ashley Williams
VAC & MUSKET present
a Michael Michelon and Erica Ruff production
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED

by

GEO
From Page1A
"Nobody likes the idea of that
instruction being interfered with.
It's unfairto undergraduates."
Woods said GEO's bargaining
team would be willing to negotiate
with the University during a walk-
out as long as it doesn't force GEO
to crossthe picket line into certain
campus buildings.
In certain situations, walkouts
are used in labor disputes instead
of strikes because while a strike
is open-ended, walkouts are often
limited in length. GEO last staged
a walkout during contract talks in
2005.
By allowing its contract to
expire today, GEO is putting itself
in the precarious position of work-
ing without a contract this week.
Woods said the union didn't want
the contract to expire because they
lose leverage in the negotiations.
"We can put the brakes on at
anytime if we can come to an
agreement with the University,"
said Woods said. "In the eyes of
many of our members the 24th
is the last day to reach a contract
without having to walk out."
Tomorrow, GEO leaders plan
to discuss extending the contract
until March 24 to give its negoti-
ating team another week to settle
a deal.
The two sides agreed Thursday
to negotiate four times this week
and once next week.
"We're pleased that GEO added
additional dates to talk" Frumkin
said. "The more time we spend
together, the greater the likeli-
hood of an agreement."
The two negotiating teams
have yet to reach agreements on
the issues that will be the corner-
stones of the new contract, like
salary increases and expanded
health care coverage.
GEO had initially proposed a 9-
percent increase for the first year.
The University's latest counter
offer was a 3-percent increase.
"They need to do a lot moving
towards us ifthey want to prevent
a walk out, so I hope that hap-
pens," Woods said. "It's the goal of
the union is to settle this contract
without having GSIs having to
choose to not work."
GEO and the University have
also failed to reach agreements
on articles relating to expanded
health benefits for GSIs and child
care coverage.

Why choose P wERSC E for
theLSAT, GMAT,
orGRE

,S0

a

* 99th Percentile Instructors
*Extensive Course Materials
*Unmatched Student Support
0 Online Student Center