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 More trouble for Haskins? Third tutor steps forward in Minnesota cheating scandal
Posted: Wednesday March 24, 1999 01:05 PM
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A third tutor says she wrote a paper for a former University of Minnesota men's basketball player. Graduate student Alexandra Goulding said when she told coach Clem Haskins she wouldn't do it again Haskins responded that the player, Courtney James, "needed a lot of help," the Saint Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday. The next day, Goulding said, team academic counselor Alonzo Newby told her she would not be offered a contract to continue working as an athletic department tutor. Goulding, a doctoral candidate in sociology, said Newby had watched her write the paper on her first day as a tutor in 1995. Goulding said she discovered that James' paper about his goals in school was due the next day, and that he was not proficient in typing or putting his thoughts on paper. She said she sat down at the computer and began typing the paper with James beside her. "From yes and no statements from him, I created the sentences," she said. Goulding said she then told Newby that "I cannot and will not write his papers. I said you will have to get him [James] some remedial tutoring." Goulding said she later repeated these concerns to Haskins. Goulding said she does not believe Haskins witnessed her writing the paper. Ron Rosenbaum, attorney for Newby, said he needs to investigate the latest allegations. Ron Zamansky, who represents Haskins, said the coach stands by his earlier statement denying wrongdoing. Two law firms hired by the university began this week investigating earlier allegations by two former tutors. Two weeks ago, Jan Gangelhoff, a one-time tutor and former academic counseling unit office manager, said she completed 400 pieces of course work for 20 players from 1993 to 1998. She furnished the Pioneer Press with computer files containing more than 225 examples of course work for 19 players that she says she wrote and players turned in. Gangelhoff's sister, Jeanne Payer, also said she did course work for players during the 1997-98 school year. Goulding showed the Pioneer Press a Dec. 1, 1995, pay stub for $50 that she said she received for the 2 1/2 hours of work with James. She said she wrote a one-page paper about his goals in college for a remedial English class in the General College. The stub says the work was for academic counseling. James, now a player for the Fort Wayne Fury of the Continental Basketball Association, told the newspaper: "I don't remember that name. I don't recall any names of any of the tutors." James left the Minnesota program after the 1996-97 season, choosing to turn pro instead of serving a season-long suspension after being convicted of fifth-degree assault in August 1997. Meanwhile at a news conference Tuesday, Gangelhoff departed from her previous accounts, in which she said Haskins had no direct knowledge of her role on behalf of players. Gangelhoff said Tuesday that Haskins knew she did course work for players and advised her about how to make it appear authentic. "On a couple of occasions he said, 'Just remember, Jan, you can't be too good. The papers can't be too good,' " Gangelhoff said. She said she often discussed players' academic progress with the coach. "He would say 'Student X got a 'D' in this class. Now he'll have to get a 'B' in this class or he might not be eligible [to play],' " Gangelhoff said. "Implying do whatever it took to get a 'B' in that class so he'll be eligible." Gangelhoff said she resigned in January 1998 after university officials questioned her about allegedly violating rules in helping player Kevin Loge with a take-home exam. Gangelhoff was flanked by her sister and former Gophers basketball player Russ Archambault at the news conference. University officials are reviewing records of daily expense allowances to players in light of Archambault's allegations Tuesday that Haskins gave him cash eight to 10 times. University officials said Archambault may be construing as improper what may be legitimate expense allowances. But Archambault differentiated between the meal money that he and other players signed for and the eight to 10 payments he said he received from Haskins. "I never signed for the alleged payments," Archambault said after the news conference. "I signed for regular meal money." Haskins dismissed Archambault from the team last year for breaking curfew and fighting. "But I got no ax to grind to get back at the coach," Archambault said. The allegations may have cost Archambault a chance to play basketball next season at Montana State. He had given a verbal commitment to accept a scholarship there. But Montana State coach Mick Durham said that he may not offer Archambault a scholarship now. "We've expressed an interest in him," Durham said. "But with everything that's happened, he's probably blown that opportunity with us." Archambault attends Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Reservation near Rapid City, S.D.
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