UNC Academics Scandal

Earlier this week, it was discovered that the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill committed a severe offense after lying about academics. Apparently, this scandal has been going on for 18 years, and the University covered it up to make money off of substantial athletic events that occurred. The investigation was started after a report was released by educators who discovered fake paper grades and higher grades to keep student athletes eligible for their respective sports. Implications from the investigation resulted in firings of 4 employees and 5 others were disciplined for their roles.
        As a result of the academic fraud, UNC's reputation goes down the drain. They are no longer the ideal place to play sports and no longer have the appeal over other schools. The sports that could be most affected by the UNC scandal will most likely be Football, Men's Baseball and Men's Basketball programs because it was discovered that most players enrolled in fake "paper classes" belonged to these programs. In order to win championships, UNC declared athletes struggling in school eligible, so their highly rated sports programs can remain successful. This was a poor decision on UNC's part, because one possible penalty that could be handed down from the NCAA could be less scholarships, hefty fines, and playoff ineligibility. Not only this, but any previous NCAA championship won by the school in the past 18 years could be taken away also. This penalty is strictly directed towards Men's basketball, who has won 3 NCAA Championships in 1993, 2005, and 2009. 
        The report has also created much hypocrisy in the scandal, and many coaches find themselves blaming that the teachers of the student athletes were being "too hard." The paper classes were created by assistant Debbie Crowder, of the African American study program, out of pity for students who were not the most "brightest students." Classes were set up as GPA boosters, but were not classes recognized by the NCAA. In other words, North Carolina cheated the Academics aspect of college, and decided to cover it up to help storied programs remain successful.
        Another problem UNC will encounter after the initial investigation is completed is getting higher ranked athletes to commit to their school. They will lose the appeal as a result of the investigation and a reduced number of scholarships means less money that can be given to athletes to go to school. UNC will also lose out on current players, who may decide to leave the college because they see no need to stay. This scandal may be the worst academic scandal ever, and a strict penalty is ensured by the NCAA, to prevent other schools from committing the same offense. No doubt the NCAA is sending a message to other colleges that cheating academics will no be tolerated and not treated lightly.