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| | Wednesday, May 17 Former football captain files lawsuit | |||||
| Associated Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A University of Tennessee professor who raised accusations of academic fraud in the athletic department says her office was broken into for a fifth time last weekend. In a related matter, former football captain Spencer Riley filed a lawsuit Monday accusing university employees of illegally releasing his academic records to the media. He is seeking a restraining order. ESPN.com reported months ago that academic tutors were writing papers for athletes, and athletic department managers failed to inform administrators when tutors complained. The university and the NCAA cleared the school of wrongdoing. But the Faculty Senate and the NCAA are investigating specific examples of grade-changing and other violations raised by English professor Linda Bensel-Meyers from her review of 39 athletes' records. Bensel-Meyers, who oversaw the English composition tutors, met with FBI agents Monday. She says her office was broken into and her phone was tapped. She also said she has received threatening mail. She told agents that in addition to four earlier break-ins, someone got into her office over the weekend and left open the CD-ROM carrier in her computer. "I can't go into detail because I don't want to ruin the investigation, but they see clear reason to investigate," she said. Knoxville FBI spokesman Scott Nowinski confirmed the meeting. "Obviously, it is going to take a little time to look into them (the allegations), 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. Bensel-Meyers said that the NCAA postponed a meeting with her scheduled for Tuesday until a later date. Her attorney said the NCAA wanted to allow all parties to prepare. Riley is seeking a temporary restraining order against the university, the NCAA and Bensel-Meyers barring them from releasing his records. Judge Leon Jordan is scheduled to hear the case Wednesday. "I am glad to see Spencer suing the university for releasing his records," Bensel-Meyers said. "I steadfastly protected his name ... and I think it was an egregious transgression for the athletic department to release his name." The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that it obtained Riley's records from the athletic department's office of student life. | ALSO SEE FBI interviews UT professor in academic fraud case UT professor who alleged fraud reports threats against her Tennessee panel promises closure to allegations  | |||||