Liberty University recently hired Ian McCaw, ex-Baylor athletic director, to fill its AD position. With sexual assault cases that McCaw is tied to not yet closed, what is another university -- a private, Christian university no less -- doing hiring the man who was involved in the mishandling of sexual assault cases for a five-year period?
The cool kids at your high school were probably the jocks. With letterman's jackets and throngs of cheerleaders, the cool kids ruled the school with footballs and baseball bats, achieving the attention of more than just the college recruiters. Everyone loved them, wanted to be them and secretly hated them for the behavior they portrayed that was deemed admirable.
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Education is an athlete's paradise -- the better you perform, the more people are willing to turn a blind eye when you act up. "But they're such a good kid," parents will boast when their star quarterback or anchor runner walks past. Athletic abilities turn into character references, showcasing an athlete's ability to walk on the wild side while maintaining their reputable position.
An exaggerated description? Perhaps, but one that rings true to many as students move from being the high school cool kids to college athletic departments.
Five years.
For five years, Baylor football players were given a free pass in regards to what, and who, they wanted to do. As a heavily-involved football school, the reign of the Baylor University athletics program held more weight than the safety of students. Priorities were clearly defined by the actions that ensued. Baylor is still combatting the negative press from the football program's actions, even after the demotion of president Ken Starr, the firing of head football coach Art Briles and a probation for, now-Liberty's, Ian McCaw.
So, again: Why is Liberty scooping up an individual with a resume like Ian McCaw's? For just that -- his resume. McCaw brings success to the athletic programs he is responsible for; from national titles to bowl games, McCaw's program at Baylor racked up the numbers… and that went for sexual assaults as well.
Those athletic victories scored McCaw's newest position at Liberty, but moral standings and integrity were thrown in the mud.
On McCaw’s hiring, Liberty University president, Jerry Falwell Jr., stated: “You look at what Baylor was able to do during his [McCaw’s] tenure, it fits perfectly with where we see our sports programs going. This is an exciting time for us."
Liberty’s hire of Ian McCaw shows the continuous prioritization of athletics amongst education. As in, nothing is as important as ESPN on your doorstep for any and all big games. The cool kids are still the jocks, and they’re still ruling the school -- this doesn’t mean they’ll abuse that power, but what is going to happen to them if they do? Other students’ needs are set aside, but those athletes? Their lockers are made of gold.
