
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 15, 1993                   TAG: 9305170246
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

UVA PROUD OF ITS ATHLETIC RECORD

YOUR PAPER rates a flat F for its reporting of the "wrist-slapping" of the University of Virginia after a two-year investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

It was concluded that there was no intentional wrongdoing or pattern of behavior by UVa, but a lack of proper institutional control. You never gave us any specifics about the loans, but just continued with a heavy brush of strokes to paint UVa as the "Grinch who stole Christmas."

Other media have reported factual information on the loans. This includes five instances of football players receiving minimal loans to buy health insurance, two loans for a football player and a basketball player to cover a shortfall in summer earnings, and one loan of $83.65 to a football player for eye glasses.

UVa is proud of its academic integrity and athletic excellence. Here is part of the record:

Three academic all-Americans in 1992; 168 student athletes on the honor roll in 1992; the 1984-1985 National Academic Award; since 1974, a student-athlete graduation rate of better than 90 percent; football bowls in Gator (1991), Sugar (1991), Citrus (1990), All American (1987) and Peach (1984).

There are other athletic honors in nine other sports, including soccer, basketball, Lacross, swimming and golf.

UVa didn't steal Christmas - they brought it. G. GARLAND WILSON RADFORD

by CNB