WSU Conducting Internal Review Into Baseball Program

[RoyalShock]

The one thing that gives me pause about Shelley being put on leave simply as a matter of protocol, are the comments from her attorney. Either it's more than just being prudent or Rathbun is intentionally trying to stir up more drama.

[Kung Wu]

When you have an investigation and there is a person at the center of the investigation, you remove that person. Period. The end. You don't base that level of business decision on emotion or sentiment. It doesn't matter if it's the most respected employee or the worst scofflaw. You remove them for at least the duration of the investigation.

If this were a criminal investigation you would be spot on under most circumstances. But this is an NCAA rule violation.

Should Sexton (or some other WSU or ICAA employee) have been escorted out of the building and his computer seized when they discovered and had to investigate Hannah's paper not being signed? That's absurd right?

I don't want that way overreaching organization being able to assert anywhere near that level of control over WSU.

Now there may be an entire backstory that I am not aware of that could change all of this. Like maybe she was using an account that she shouldn't have been in order to do something devious. Then it would be criminal and I'd be back to agreeing with you. But from what little we know from what was reported, this is probably a very minor innocent mistake.

We are talking about a rule violation not a criminal act.

[SB Shock]

If this were a criminal investigation you would be spot on under most circumstances. But this is an NCAA rule violation.

Should Sexton (or some other WSU or ICAA employee) have been escorted out of the building and his computer seized when they discovered and had to investigate Hannah's paper not being signed? That's absurd right?

I don't want that way overreaching organization being able to assert anywhere near that level of control over WSU.

Now there may be an entire backstory that I am not aware of that could change all of this. Like maybe she was using an account that she shouldn't have been in order to do something devious. Then it would be criminal and I'd be back to agreeing with you. But from what little we know from what was reported, this is probably a very minor innocent mistake.

We are talking about a rule violation not a criminal act.

Maybe it violated WSU policy

[Kung Wu]

Maybe it violated WSU policy

Yeah, there's that angle too. Good call.

[ShockTalk]

The one thing that gives me pause about Shelley being put on leave simply as a matter of protocol, are the comments from her attorney. Either it's more than just being prudent or Rathbun is intentionally trying to stir up more drama.

That's his job, isn't it?

[WuShock16]

The compliance person is a lady. No way she will be fired.

You're right and wrong here. The person who directly handles the nuts and bolts of the compliance office is a guy. The administrator who overlooks compliance (amongst other things) is a woman.

[MoValley John]

You're right and wrong here. The person who directly handles the nuts and bolts of the compliance office is a guy. The administrator who overlooks compliance (amongst other things) is a woman.

I'd rather have a woman handling my nuts and bolts.

[_kai_]

I've had correspondence with Korey Torgeson (The actual hands-on compliance person), and have never met Becky Endicott who is the adminstrator in charge of compliance. Korey responded quickly with some questions I had in regards to what is considered a booster and what is not. Also rules on reporting about recruits on websites, etc. Very timely, very professional, and provided me with pdf's to guidelines as well as the code.

I've always felt like WSU compliance is top notch, I really do think this will all just blow over and at the most some players miss some early games as punishment.

[RoyalShock]

That's his job, isn't it?

Not if the goal is returning to her position once this all blows over.

[WSUwatcher]

The one thing that gives me pause about Shelley being put on leave simply as a matter of protocol, are the comments from her attorney. Either it's more than just being prudent or Rathbun is intentionally trying to stir up more drama.

Either of your alternatives is possible, especially the latter. Rathbun is like most defense attorneys in that if he thinks it's advantageous to his client to stir up drama, he will do so. As ShockTalk noted, that's his job; and although to those of us on the outside he may seem a bit overzealous in that regard, there's no doubt that he does it enthusiastically and sometimes quite effectively.

You make a good point about her job, but I think it's pretty unrealistic to hope that the job she has had will be open to her no matter what once this is over. All that can realistically be hoped for at this point is back pay (if any), a clean employee record, and reassignment.

[1972Shocker]

I don't think any of us, with perhaps the exception of @WuDrWu, knows enough to speculate on what may happen to Shelley job-wise. My guess, at this point, is that she will continue in her job and will receive more extensive training plus any orders placed with UA or other vendors will be subject to some new checks and balances. Of course, there is always the possibility that some deliberate wrong-doing by Shelley could be discovered, but quite frankly that would surprise me.

When Gene was terminated I recall reports that everyone on the baseball staff was let go, including Shelley. That turned out not to be the case then, and until the facts indicate otherwise I do not think that will be the case now.

Then again WDIK? Admittedly not much.

[Robin]

Actually since she is a classified state employee I don't think they can fire her until they give her due process. But I think they have gone as far as they legally can until they go through the steps to make it official.

Okay, enough of the "state employee" stuff regarding Shelley. Only coaches and administration are "classified" and are employees of the state. Hourly employees such as administrative assistants are "unclassified" and work for WSU-ICAA (Athletics). There is absolutely nothing protecting them or their job if their superior has cause to fire them. There is no magic list with "causes" for termination! For Pete's sake...the fact that Shelley was using a personal email instead of a WSU email points to all kinds of opportunities for her to control and/or hide anything she wanted. She liked it that way and had no problem letting people know that.

[dregn]

If she isn't a state employee why is she in the state database as an employee?

[Ricardo del Rio]

If she isn't a state employee why is she in the state database as an employee?

Those dang penetrating questions.

[Robin]

All the employees are listed there. Some of those names you're looking at are administrative assistants and bookkeepers, etc. Some of the administrative people aren't on that list anymore, compared to last year. I am guessing they didn't want the public knowing their salaries.