The poorly written, 146-word essay from the North Carolina student-athlete that reportedly received an A-minus as a final exam apparently was not the final version of the draft, did not receive an A-minus grade nor was it the sole assignment for the class.
Slate.com reported that an ESPN report gave a false impression that a camera image of the 146-word paragraph on Rosa Parks had been an assignment a Tar Heels athlete turned in as a final for the class AFAM 41 and received and A-minus.
Slate.com reached out to the North Carolina learning specialist-turned-whistleblower Mary Willingham, who clarified the camera image that caused a sensation on the internet.
According to Slate.com, ESPN reported that Willingham exposed that North Carolina had offered fake courses that student-athletes could take to raise their grades.
"I became aware of this paper class system, that students were taking classes that didn't really exist," Willingham told the ESPN cameras, Slate.com reported. "They were called independent studies at that time and they just had to write a paper."
Willingham added that students were not required to actually attend any classes.
ESPN's editing made it appear that Willingham, who was holding the questionable essay in her hand, had indicated that a student received an A-minus for the paper, though she actually said, "This is not even close to college work, yet this athlete was awarded an A-.
She confirmed to Slate.com, however, that the 146-word paragraph was not the final draft, nor was it the only assignment for the AFAM 41 class that was a legitimate course. She said the student-athlete received an A-minus for the entire class.
"It's an original document from an athlete for an essay-for a final. That's all I know," she told Slate.com. "That is the grade level the person was writing at. That's the point."
Which is certainly a powerful point but not as horrific as ESPN made it out to be.
Does the fact that the 148-word essay was not what a student-athlete turned in for credit change your opinion North Carolina's athletic program for its student-athletes? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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