Three Rivers responds to criticism over Bess reprimand

By TIM KRAKOWIAK ~ DAR Staff Writer

With Board President James Grassham being the only dissenter, the Three Rivers Community College Board of Trustees decided to respond to a letter written by former college officials criticizing actions taken by the admin- istration and board.

The letter which was the sole issue during a special meeting called for Tuesday morning, derided TRCC officials for reprimanding head men's basketball coach and athletic director Gene Bess after an issue that came up in May.

Bess allegedly banned a former TRCC Raiders basketball player from the college gym while school was still in session after the student committed to transfer to another college on a sports scholarship.

Joe Rozman, vice president for student affairs and information technology, presented a report of an investigation about the incident in question during a closed executive session of a board meeting on June 21. A motion was approved at that time by a unanimous vote from the trustees to reprimand Bess.

After the administrative action was taken on the personnel issue -- normally a private matter -- it later became public when a copy of the reprimand was leaked to Raiders Booster Club members.

"I have no idea how that became public," Rozman said to the board Tuesday. He went on to explain that he wrote the reprimand himself, locked away a sealed copy, gave one to Bess and another to TRCC President Dr. John Cooper.

"I've been called dishonest, mean, vicious, low-down," said Rozman. "I'm an honorable person. I deserve better."

Board treasurer Bill Hollida told Rozman that he did an excellent job dealing with the Bess matter.

"I did what I was supposed to do," said Rozman.

Innuendoes within the college community ultimately led to the vote to adopt a public statement on behalf of TRCC, according to board members.

"We sat silently too long," said board member Tom Turner. "It's time to speak up and state our position."

"There's too much discussion going on for us not to respond," added board member Marion Tibbs. "The average person has only seen what came out in the press."

Board members said they were most offended that the letter challenged the college to wipe Bess' slate clean. It was written by former dean of student affairs and vice president of student affairs John Burham and Randall Lee. The letter was addressed to the board and sent to various media outlets at the end of August. The Daily American Republic published it Sept. 2.

The open letter concluded: "Hopefully gentlemen, as board members you will resolve to rectify this unjust blot on the otherwise impeccable record of a distinguished coach and Christian gentleman."

Bess has taught for 38 years at TRCC and was recently awarded the 2007 Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching by Gov. Matt Blunt. He's in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, National Junior College Hall of Fame, Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame and in 2006 gained national recognition when he became the winningest college coach ever at any level.

The open letter claimed that Bess received "approval or concurrence" from Rozman for the coach's action against the young man before the administrator conducted a "secret, one-sided investigation" to undermine Bess' standing at the college for some "unknown reason."

The college's response, signed by all members of the board but Grassham, says the past employees who wrote the letter are "disgruntled." In closing, it states that the matter should be put to rest so the school could get on with its primary mission, to provide education to students.

It reads in part: "We reject the premise that Coach Bess does not have to play by the rules just because he has won more than 1,000 basketball games or because he is deacon in his church."

TRCC's response calls another allegation that the trustees and administration will soon dismantle the athletic program "patently absurd."

The allegation came in the form of an anonymous letter to Raiders Booster Club members last month signed by "a concerned booster member." This same notion was reiterated in the published open letter where it was implied that the college's motive is to "downgrade" its athletic program from Division I to Division II of the NJCAA in an effort to downsize the budget.

During the board meeting Tuesday, vice chairman Stephen Cookson said the board must "correct these inaccuracies."

"Some of the things in the letter are just blatant falsehoods," said Steve Cookson. "We are here for the students. They are not here for us."

Grassham objected to the motion made by board secretary John Stanard to adopt a public statement in regards to the reprimand on behalf of TRCC.

The other five board members approved.

Grassham, who has served on the board for 25 years, longer than all the other trustees, debated with the group.

"Bess was willing to forget it," said Grassham in reference to the administration's "corrective action" to the coach -- which included an order to apologize and make sure such a situation never happens again.

"Let the chips fall where they may," Grassham added. "We can't let one incident disrupt the college. To me that's ridiculous."

"I think this college is bigger than an issue," said Turner. "It's a question of somebody obeying the rules. We're all subject to them."

"It will refuel the flame," said Grassham. "That's more destruction to our school. You have to ask yourself if it's worth it."