Insights and Observations
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Read Henry Hinton's
feature story on veteran Hollywood actress and ECU alum
Beth Grant in
Bonesville Magazine. |
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Henry's Highlights
Thursday, September 23, 2004
By Henry Hinton |
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University's smooth ride of
late hits pothole
©2004 Bonesville.net
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Talk of the Town:
Replay Wednesday's Talk of The Town with Henry
Hinton and breaking news about a lawsuit against ECU:
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Bonesville Magazine
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• PAT DYE: Short on Tenure, Long on Impact
• INSIDE PIRATE FOOTBALL
• Recruit Profiles
• Rookie Books
• Tracking the Classes
• Florida Pipeline
• NCHSAA & ECU: Smooth Sailing Again
• HIGH HOPES FOR HOOPS
• STEVE BALLARD:
New Leader Takes Charge
• SCOTT COWEN: Busting Down the Door
• KEITH LECLAIR on ECU's Field of Dreams
• BETH GRANT: Actress Still a Pirate
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Just when it looked like the bad news of the last year
had turned to good on main campus at East Carolina University, a bomb was
dropped on the school's administration this week.
Former ECU Provost William Swart has filed a breach of
contract lawsuit against the university.
Talk 1070 and Cable 7 broke the story of the lawsuit
against ECU on
Talk of The Town Wednesday
afternoon.
Swart, who was recruited to ECU from Old Dominion
University by former chancellor William Muse, was reassigned from his
position of provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs last September
after the controversial Muse's departure from Greenville.
After Muse was forced out as chancellor last September,
the spotlight went to Swart, who had been under fire inside and outside the
university for his hiring practices.
News of the lawsuit breaks a recent string of positive
events since the Muse affair, including the hiring of new Chancellor Steve
Ballard and Director of Athletics Terry Holland.
Last year, Old Dominion University president RoseAnn
Runte accused Swart of improper and unethical recruiting practices in
separate letters to Charles Franklin, then chairman of the ECU Board of
Trustees, and UNC system president Molly Broad. Swart had offered positions
to several at ODU and Runte made it clear that she felt Swart was trying to
“raid” her staff.
In the legal complaint which was served on ECU attorney
Ben Irons on Monday, Swart says Runte’s comments were “defamatory, improper,
untrue, and wrongful statements” about him.
He alleges, however, that the ECU Board and
administration used those comments against him after the exodus of Muse and
he was subsequently asked to step down as provost “for the good of the
university.”
The complaint states that Swart refused to resign and
was involuntarily reassigned to the ECU faculty. It also states that “ECU
has acknowledged and admitted that the termination and reassignment was
without cause, wrongdoing, or misconduct on plaintiff’s (Swart’s) part.”
Swart’s complaint goes on to say that he was injured
financially due to a cut in his $200,000 annual salary and that ECU failed
to pay housing allowances previously agreed upon.
He is asking for a jury trial in hopes of recovering
money he says the university owes him and damages for the embarrassment he
contends he has suffered professionally.
The action against ECU is not a defamation suit,
however. The pretense is that ECU breached his contract by removing him from
his position without cause.
Roundball slate creates
buzz
For those who have complained that the early season ECU
basketball schedule has been stuffed with powder-puffs in recent years, the
release of the
2004-05 schedule on Wednesday may
have been a surprise.
Bill Herrion’s team could face Pepperdine, Oregon
State, N.C. State, Old Dominion, Toledo, South Carolina and Clemson all
before New Year’s Eve.
Murderer’s Row? Well, maybe for a team which then has
to turn its attention to a gauntlet of stiff Conference USA challenges.
The exciting schedule features a formidable
front-loaded home slate, including January visits by South Florida,
Cincinnati, UAB, Saint Louis and Charlotte.
In an unusually light home schedule for February.
Marquette, Southern Miss and Houston are the only teams scheduled in Minges
Coliseum.
The Pirates will participate in the
Black Coaches Association Invitational
tournament in the RBC Centura Center in Raleigh November 17-19 to open the
season.
The Clemson game will be regionally televised on Fox
Sports Net South on Wednesday December 29.

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02/23/2007 10:14:00 AM |