| | Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The FBI met Monday with a University of
Tennessee professor who has raised allegations of academic fraud
involving the school's athletes.
English professor Linda Bensel-Meyers claimed her office was
broken into, her phone tapped and she was threatened since she
alleged football players received improper academic help to stay
eligible.
She met with two FBI agents on Monday.
"I can't go into detail because I don't want to ruin the
investigation," she said, "but they see clear reason to
investigate."
Knoxville FBI spokesman Scott Nowinski confirmed the meeting.
"We are talking to her, obtaining all the facts concerning
these allegations," he said. "Obviously, it is going to take a
little time to look into them, to evaluate them and to see whether
there is a potential federal violation there and whether there may
be anything that is provable," he said.
Nowinski said if the bureau launches an investigation, he
wouldn't be able to comment on it until it is over.
The university and the NCAA earlier dismissed allegations that
academic tutors wrote papers for athletes and athletics department
managers failed to forward complaints to administrators.
However, the UT Faculty Senate and the NCAA are continuing to
investigate allegations of grade-changing and other irregularities
Bensel-Meyers claimed she found in the academic records of 39
athletes. | |
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