By Jazmin Conner
University of Maryland students raised tough questions about the death of Jordan McNair in a Sept. 27 town hall with the Athletics Department.
The SGA and Maryland Discourse hosted the event as a way for students to engage in an open forum about the current state of Maryland Athletics, after an ESPN report describing the department’s “toxic culture” led to an investigation of abuse in the Maryland football program.
“I would have a better view of the situation and the Athletics Department had they been proactive and taken the initiative before the ESPN report came out,” junior communications major Thomas Caleos said.
Athletic Director Damon Evans, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President Abigail Bentz and SGA President Jonathan Evans formed a panel to answer questions and hear the concerns of students in attendance.
Jasmine Washington, a junior communications and criminal justice major, said that she first heard the news about the department from Twitter. She said she felt blindsided hearing troubling information about the university from a source other than the university.
“We did a press conference the day after Jordan’s passing to share what we had at that time,” Evans said in response to the students concerns. “We want the report just as fast as we can get it, but at the same time we want that report to be very, very thorough.”
Evans expressed regret that the department didn’t follow proper procedures for diagnosing McNair by neglecting to give him an immersion bath, the ideal form of treatment.
Evans characterized President Loh as “courageous” for taking responsibility for the incident.
“You don’t see many presidents come forward and take responsibility,” Evans said. “He did it because it’s the right thing to do.”
Some students said the University could have been more transparent.
“You got caught with your hand in the cookie jar,” junior education major David Anderson said.
Allen advised students to take advantage of SGA general body meetings on Wednesday nights where they can voice their concerns about UMD athletics and other campus issues. Evans said the department plans to organize more discussions to hear concerns from students and brainstorm solutions.
Washington said that some of her questions were answered and that she appreciated hearing from the people on the panel instead of relying on students’ opinions on social media.
“I feel like in order to get the rest of the answers to my questions I would have to wait for the [final report] to be revealed,” she said.