Locksley incident brings policy shift
UNM President David Schmidly is recommending changes in Human Resources and University Counsel policies in light of the media outcry after head football coach Mike Locksley’s Sept. 20 physical altercation and the investigation that followed.
Schmidly sent a letter to Athletics Director Paul Krebs recommending that the HR representative in the Athletics Department report to the University’s Division of Human Resources. He also said that the Athletics Department management, administrative staff and coaches need to have further training through HR.
Schmidly sent a memo to University Counsel Patrick Apodaca asking for additional resources to be allocated to the Office of the Custodian of Public Records “in order to minimize the risk of errors in responding to public records requests in the future.”
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Schmidly said he did not ask Krebs and Apodaca to implement the changes by a particular date; rather, he asked the two administrators to create training plans and review their current processes before recommending specific changes to be made.
University Spokeswoman Susan McKinsey said in an e-mail that the transition is at “the beginning of the very beginning,” so no time is set for the changes to be implemented.
“We’ve announced that it will occur,” she said in the e-mail. “But there are no changes to report or comment on as yet. And I have no idea about a timeline, though the intention is to have this done quickly.”
In the letter to Krebs, dated Nov. 5, Schmidly said a central HR representative in the Athletics Department would help AD employees understand HR policies.
“This change in reporting relationship will ensure appropriate oversight of the position and provide the Athletics Department with more immediate and effective access to the full range of Human Resources services and support,” Schmidly said in the letter.
At a press conference Nov. 4, Krebs said he did not know he was supposed to report the Locksley incident to HR and instead asked athletics representative for human resources Shannon Garbiso — who is not an employee of the University’s Division of HR — to conduct an internal investigation.
In the memo to Apodaca, dated Nov. 6, Schmidly said the Custodian of Public Records was not prepared for the inundation of public information requests that came after the Locksley incident.
Several media outlets — including the Sports Animal (610 AM) and KRQE News — said that their requests for information and documents pertinent to the investigation were not answered in a timely manner.
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by SFan
So my question relates to the recent soccer incident.
Last week I posted a question which referenced the most recent press conference of the women’s soccer coach which called her team ‘fiery’ and questioned why NM had 17 yellow cards this season and their opponents only 5.
That video was taken down and you can only see the previous week’s press conference. What else gets such revisionist history at NM?
by Sue
I don’t know who Schmidly thinks he is fooling with this implementation of new Human Resources and University Counsel policies. Don’t forget that Schmidly justified Krebs salary and position by stating the Athletic Department need someone with deep knowledge of UNM Policies and Procedures. It was apparent that if Krebs knew the policy he failed to implement it; when it pertained to the assault on Gerald by Locksley. Schmidly, Krebs, Locksley and Gonzales should all be fired; they are unfit to be leaders. With all the lying, cover up and destroying documents that related to the assault; no one can trust UNM’s administrators.
by Boyd
The press conference was nothing more than a horrifying display of the utter incompetence that plagues the UNM administration. We were told that the investigator mistakenly destroyed documents pertaining to the assault (which no one believed) I assume the letter in which Mr. Gerald demanded $500,000 has been destroyed as well?
The reporters were not in charge and they either got cut off before they could ask all their questions or their questions were flipped off with supercilious rudeness, Reporter: [paraphrasing] “Will there be disciplinary action for the mistakes in the investigation?”
Schmidly: [paraphrasing] “No.
Did we expect anything better of the press conference? No. Not from this villainous bunch.
by UNM's Cover Up Not Working
This article from ABQ Journal shows that the attempted cover up and destruction of documents by the UNM’s Administrators is not working! The truth is still unfolding!
Embattled Lobos football coach Mike Locksley told assistant J.B. Gerald that he would “slap the s— out of” him in an encounter about a month before the two got into the Sept. 20 altercation that led to Locksley’s suspension, according to a new document released Friday.
The document also quotes one assistant coach as saying that Gerald was willing to move ahead and put the incident behind him. But in a meeting two days after the Sept. 20 incident, Locksley showed no remorse and tried to downplay it.
Gerald has since hired a lawyer and threatened to sue the University of New Mexico.
The newly revealed document also shows that the receivers, coached by Gerald, were worried they were responsible for Locksley’s mistreatment of their coach.
UNM had failed to release the document to the media until Friday “because of a copying error.” The omitted document was the back side of a witness statement provided by quarterbacks coach Tee Martin three days after the incident in which Locksley is accused of choking Gerald and punching him in the mouth.
Locksley denies that he punched or choked Gerald, but acknowledges the altercation took place.
The copying error is the latest gaffe in UNM’s handling of the Locksley scandal. On Wednesday, UNM President David Schmidly revealed that Athletics Department employee Shannon Garbiso had destroyed all of the original versions of witness statements she took, though copies of those notes remain.
Schmidly, Athletics Vice President Paul Krebs and Human Resources Director Helen Gonzales held a news conference Wednesday in which they acknowledged that UNM had “bungled” its handling of the altercation but insisted there was no cover-up.
According to the newly released document, Martin told Garbiso about the earlier incident in which Locksley threatened Gerald. Martin said Locksley made the threat in front of a reporter for the Daily Lobo, the student newspaper.
He also told Garbiso the wide receivers feel that they’re doing something wrong and are provoking mistreatment of Gerald, who was the wide receivers coach.
Locksley apologized to the team the day after his run-in with Gerald, according to Martin’s statement. Two days after the altercation, Martin, offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey and offensive tackles/tight ends coach Cheston Blackshear set up a meeting between Locksley and Gerald.
“Gerald was willing to put this behind him until he talked to Locks – Dickey, Blachshear and Martin were present – and Locks not only showed no remorse but tried to downplay what had happened,” Martin told Garbiso.
Copies of the witness statements previously provided to the media contained passages that are unreadable, and they appeared to be missing the margins of the originals.
Cleaner copies of the documents released Friday reveal that Martin told Garbiso that some players witnessed part of the altercation.
Schmidly on Friday directed a review of current practices for handling record requests “to more efficiently deal with increasing demand and to properly comply in a timely manner with these requests.”
by RegentsFieldRequest
UNM Board of Regents today fielded a request from former UNM HR Representative Maria Garcia for an indepedent investigation to take place regarding UNM Administrators Schmidly , Gonzales, and Krebs surrounding their actions and decisions involving the Locksley incident in order to obtain the truth.
Tim Maestas of KRQE Channel 13 was present with a camera man so I assume the story is going to run on Fox 2 or 13.
A very interesting fact became apparent that Regents President
Raymond Sanchez was obviously uncomfortable in giving a comment on camera to Maestas.
UMMM… An independent investigation just might sort all this out in light of an impending lawsuit from Gerald.
by Ismellarat
Previous blogger correct about Sanchez! Just watched the news footage of Garcia on 13 and Sanchez says no to independent investigation citing “no new information given” by Garcia. Hello! That’s why an independent investigation is needed!! Eventhough the UNM Staff Council President supports an independent investigation too? says staff are fearful!!! on camera!! What kind of Banana Republic U is this? C’mon current Lobos , Staff and Alumnus we have got to start a petition or something? These cronies and crooks are running amuck and destroying our university . . .(yes! this is our university!!) which is more than I can say for the accomplishments of our beloved (and sometimes “assaulted!) Lobo football team!
by Regina
Oooh a policy! That will hit the coach where he lives.
Not.
by Let’s Start a Petition
There needs to be a clear message sent to these immoral idiots that we will no longer tolerate their unjust corrupt actions. Schmidly, Krebs, Locksley, Gonzales and their followers have made a mockery of our university. We will have to start a petition to put an end to this madness.
by Boycott UNM Athletics
From the Dominatrix Sex Scandal to Locksley’s assault on Gerald and other cases were the UNM administration has mishandled: This quote from Sharon Warner is true: “The similarities to the Locksley case are really quite striking, because in both cases somebody abused their power relationship,” she said. “Then the University pretended to do an investigation and the truth didn’t come out but they just said, ‘We’ve investigated; here are our findings; now go back to work.’” Until an independent investigation is performed and ALL those involved in the cover up are dismissed.
Boycott UNM Athletics!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Offsides
As I posted last week, don’t expect Raymond Sanchez or the other Regents to do anything. The Regents are a board of governor appointed politicos who care little about UNM as an institution. They only care about maintaining the New Mexico “good ole boy” machine institution.
They will support the people they hired. If they okay an independent investigation they run the risk of whatever gooey mess is turned up will stick to them. I am an alumnus of UNM and I have never experienced a Board of Regents that has sided with the faculty or student body on anything when it comes to Administrators and Athletic Directors. This Board is no different.
by This Video Says It All
Check out this video from KRQE News 13 it reveals just how corrupt UNM’s Administrators truly are; Parents, students, faculty and taxpayers need to band together to put a stop their incompetent.
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports/sports_blog/sportsblog_krqe_albuquerque_sports_office_short_locksley_and_otl_200911012043