Note: This updated news release contains additional information about outside counsel bills, which have been redacted this afternoon based on Judge Manning’s direction.
For immediate use: Friday, October 26, 2012 (6:30 p.m.)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is complying fully with Judge Howard E. Manning Jr.’s order and the terms of a settlement agreement reached with N.C. media organizations in a lawsuit about public records and the joint NCAA investigation.
Under the agreement, posted at https://uncnewsarchive.unc.edu/2012/10/25/university-posts-settlement-agreement-in-public-records-lawsuit-2/, the University today released statements of fact about student-athletes on the football team and a reinstatement request to the NCAA that addressed impermissible benefits. (Click here https://uncnewsarchive.unc.edu/?p=31137 for a PDF of those documents.)
On Monday, Oct. 22, attorneys for both parties met with Judge Manning to seek further guidance about how to apply the court’s Sept. 26 order with regard to certain records.
Under the order and agreement, the University will provide those additional records, which include the University’s response to the NCAA’s notice of allegations and its exhibits, on Nov. 5. (Media reports incorrectly said the University must provide all of the records today.) In addition, the University released outside counsel bills that were redacted based on Judge Manning’s direction. (Click here https://uncnewsarchive.unc.edu/?p=31138 for a PDF of those documents.)
The NCAA had the statements of fact and reinstatement request that were released today, as well as those records to be released on Nov. 5, before University representatives met with the NCAA Committee on Infractions on Oct. 28, 2011, and before the University received the NCAA’s ruling about violations on March 12, 2012.
The University will pay $45,000, a portion of the plaintiff’s attorney fees. Both parties agreed not to appeal.
Bubba Cunningham, director of athletics, issued the following statement:
“The University of North Carolina released a number of documents today pursuant to an order from Superior Court Judge Howard Manning. In 2010, Carolina worked with the NCAA enforcement staff to submit statements of facts and subsequent reinstatement requests on behalf of a number of football student-athletes. The records released today (and those that will be released on Nov. 5th) were provided to the NCAA staff prior to UNC’s appearance at the Committee on Infractions hearing on Oct. 28, 2011. The NCAA issued its ruling in March 2012 with full knowledge of these issues and facts.
The University has strictly adhered to the terms of the sanctions. The University of North Carolina and the Department of Athletics are deeply committed to maintaining the long-standing traditions of academic achievement and athletic success with integrity that have been the hallmark of our program for many decades. We are completely committed to these principles as we move forward.”
Background:
Recent University statements, records released in the case:
https://uncnewsarchive.unc.edu/?p=21603 (Aug. 9, 2012)
https://uncnewsarchive.unc.edu/?p=21566 (July 11, 2012)
News Services contact: Karen Moon, (919) 962-8595, karen_moon@unc.edu