October 7, 2002
Gardner-Webb trustees demote administrators in flap with president
___BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (ABP)--Gardner-Webb University trustees have demoted two administrators who accused President Chris White of tampering with grades of a star athlete, saying their actions tarnished the school's image.
___After a 10-hour trustee meeting Sept. 27, board chairman Thomas Hardin issued a statement announcing reassignments of Gil Blackburn, vice president and dean of academic affairs, and Phil Williams, assistant vice president for academic affairs. Both will continue to teach at the Baptist-affiliated school.
___Acknowledging that White used poor judgment in asking the school's registrar to recalculate the grade-point average of basketball star Carlos Webb, who otherwise would have been ineligible to play in the 2000-2001 season, trustees said the president "acted in accordance with his authority" and affirmed his leadership.
___When a local newspaper reported the incident nearly two years later, faculty members reacted with a hastily called meeting Sept. 10, where White received a 63-39 vote of "no confidence," meaning a majority of faculty wanted him replaced.
___But trustees primarily blamed "overzealous faculty" for a controversy that has "upset students, parents, faculty and alumni, causing them to question the value of a Gardner-Webb education."
___"This turmoil could have been avoided if certain faculty members had been patient and waited until this board had properly investigated allegations against the president," Hardin said in his statement.
___Trustees criticized Blackburn for knowing about the incident for two years but saying nothing before revealing a White memorandum from October 2000 to faculty this Sept. 10.
___They also said he allowed a former student's confidential records to be revealed at the faculty meeting, which also included students, staff and a representative of the media. That, they said, violated the university's contract with students to keep such records confidential unless the student permits disclosure, and possibly federal law, which protects the privacy of student records.
___Trustees gave no reason for demoting Williams as assistant to the dean of academic affairs, but he also has criticized White for interfering in Webb's grading.
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