Task Force Takes Offense to ‘Rebuffing’

Your article about the Cal State Northridge task force and its proposals said the recommendations were a “strong rebuff to school administrators.” We dispute this characterization. While some of our recommendations may be contrary to earlier decisions made by the university’s administration, to say we “strong(ly) rebuff” those decisions incorrectly implies that we are specifically critical of them. At no time have we taken a position of rebuffing individuals or decisions that have been made.

The article also states that “The task force also recommended that Northridge not comply with court-ordered gender-equity requirements by next fall” and “. . . that the CSU renegotiate the consent decree . . . “

Our recommendation states that “CSUN shall make its best, reasonable, and good-faith effort to comply with the requirements of the CSU/CAL-NOW Consent Decree. If CSUN does not meet these requirements by the established deadline, the university shall write a report (as allowed by the Consent Decree) that provides a detailed explanation for its non-compliance to the proportionality terms of the Consent Decree and plans as to how and when they will be met.”

In summary, we are recommending that CSUN provide a broad-based athletic program that maintains a commitment to excellence, maximizes opportunities for all student-athletes, and emphasizes academic achievement and values of good citizenship in its members.

--DR. KEITH RICHMAN

Chair, Task Force on

Intercollegiate Athletics

--SHARON SCHUSTER

Member, Task Force on

Intercollegiate Athletics