University Reaction to Gambling Indictments

December 3, 1998

Statements by Northwestern University officials regarding U.S. Attorney's announcement:

Alan K. Cubbage, Vice President for University Relations
Rick Taylor, Athletic Director
Gary Barnett, Head Football Coach

Athletics Department Statement on Gambling

Statement by Alan K. Cubbage, vice president for university relations

The indictments announced today are deeply troubling to Northwestern University. Members of the Northwestern community -- students, alumni, faculty and staff -- are dedicated to the ideals of academic achievement, personal integrity and responsibility to society. If the charges announced today are indeed accurate, they constitute actions by a few individuals that are an affront to all of us at Northwestern.

In November 1994 the University administration learned of allegations that students were involved in gambling. Those allegations were investigated immediately. Within days of first hearing about the potential problem, the University took action. Northwestern suspended one football player, Dennis Lundy, for the final game of that season. Shortly afterwards, a basketball player, Dion Lee, was suspended for six games of the 1994-95 season. And another student, Brian Ballarini, who was questioned by the University as part of the investigation, withdrew from Northwestern in December 1994.

Northwestern's investigation was thorough and complete. Every lead and every allegation the University received was pursued. And when we completed our investigation, the results were turned over to the U.S. Attorney's office. In fact, the internal investigation provided the initial information that ultimately led to today's indictments. In addition, Northwestern has continued to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's office as it developed its investigation over the past four years.

Illegal gambling is something that is not tolerated at Northwestern University and the University will continue to take all necessary actions to prevent its occurrence on our campus. Every year, we educate our student-athletes about the dangers of gambling, warning them of consequences such as you just heard about today.

Since its founding nearly 150 years ago, Northwestern has dedicated itself to the principles of honesty and personal integrity. Despite what these former students may have done, the University's commitment to those principles remains unchanged today.

Statement by Rick Taylor, Northwestern Athletic Director

We respond to the 1994 gambling investigation announcements, made earlier today by the U.S. Attorney's Office, with sadness that the ugly spectre of sports gambling, while not new news, brings us before you again.

In March of this year, under similar circumstances, I talked about betrayal of self, family, teammate and school. The core integrity of any game relies on the honest, unqualified effort of those competing. Should these allegations prove true, those involved will have betrayed the very fabric of sport.

Northwestern conducted an extraordinarily thorough investigation, followed up on every lead provided, turned over every piece of information to the U.S. Attorney's Office and, subsequently, provided a detailed report to the NCAA.

University personnel, specifically Coach Barnett and everyone directly connected to the football program, took action in a timely manner with the utmost integrity.

As evidenced by the policy provided to you today, Northwestern has, as a result of this four-year inquiry, established the most rigorous anti-gambling policy of any NCAA school. None of us can change the past, but we can try to influence the future.

Statement by Gary Barnett, Northwestern Head Football Coach

It is a sad day when a football coach has to stand up in a press conference and comment on student-athletes who played for him and were charged with breaking the law. I had always believed in these individuals' commitment to our team, both on and off the field. Therefore, I was stunned after the Iowa game in 1994 when I learned that one of our players admitted to wagering on football games. Since that time, I have not been involved in this case. I only learned today the names of other players who were also involved in gambling. This, too, shocks and saddens me.

It is important to remember that the alleged conduct occurred more than four years ago and does not involve current players. Therefore, I would ask that you do not attempt to interview them regarding this matter. It is not fair to them.

I would also like to reiterate that Northwestern will not suffer any NCAA sanctions or probation, thanks in large part to the way the administration handled this situation. They acted swiftly and have done all they can to ensure that an episode like this never happens again on our campus.

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT STATEMENT ON GAMBLING

Gambling threatens the integrity of competitive sports and compromises everyone who participates. Athletes are particularly vulnerable to the dangers posed by gambling. Their ability to affect the outcome of athletic contests by their action or inaction - or even by providing information to individuals intent on fixing the results of an athletic event - makes athletes prime targets for gamblers and bookies. The idea that gambling is a victimless crime is fallacious; the student-athlete who gambles risks irreparable damage to the University, self, family, and teammates.

No athletics program, including ours, is immune to the perils of gambling. Northwestern has learned all too well that "innocent" wagers can lead to mounting gambling debts and that those debts can have ugly consequences: threats against, and intimidation of, the participants, point shaving, and the like. We cannot and will not accept these corrupting influences. Therefore, the Department of Athletics and Recreation has instituted the following rule separate and apart from any governing the University community generally. It applies to student-athletes, student-trainers and managers, coaches, and all athletic department personnel:

There will be zero tolerance for participating in illegal gambling. Participating in illegal gambling includes, but is not limited to the following types of activities: placing a wager through a bookie or with someone the bettor knows will transmit the wager to a bookie; knowingly providing information directly or indirectly to a gambler or a bookie that might reasonably influence betting on an athletic event (including but not limited to information about injuries, game plans, or field conditions); or, in case of a student-athlete, by altering his or her performance in a way designed to affect in a negative way the outcome of an athletic event in which the athlete participates. Further, in accordance with NCAA rules, there will be zero tolerance for participating in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card, or any other method employed by organized gambling including, but not limited to, Internet gambling and gambling in Nevada.

A student found to have violated the above prohibitions will be permanently ineligible for continued participation in any sport at Northwestern in any manner and will be subject to the removal of all athletically-related financial aid. An athletic department employee found to have violated the above prohibitions will be subject to termination.

Involvement in Northwestern's athletics programs, whether as an athlete, trainer, manager, or employee, is a privilege, not a right.

By your participation in Northwestern athletics, you agree to abide by the rule stated here.

-NU-

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics