BOARD OF TRUSTEES

THREE RIVERS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

JAMES E. GRASSHAM, CHAIRMAN                APPROVAL DATE

JOHN R. STANARD, SECRETARY                   APPROVAL DATE

Three Rivers Community College Trustees

Respond to 'Open Letter'

On Coach Gene Bess' Reprimand

This letter to the patrons of Three Rivers Community College, signed by five members of your Board of Trustees, is in direct response to the ill-informed and inflammatory "open letter" from John Barham and Randall Lee that was published recently in several area newspapers. Both men are disgruntled, former TRCC employees who briefly headed the Student Affairs division. Barham lists addresses in Brownsville, Texas, and Mexico. Lee lives in Auburn, Maine.

For 40 years Three Rivers has taught classes, transferred credit to four-year colleges, prepared students for jobs and promoted the economic development of our region. The college has afforded thousands the opportunity to get a better education and improve themselves and our communities. Our athletic teams have competed successfully and drawn national acclaim for Three Rivers. As proud as we are of all these aspects of our college, Three Rivers surely is about more than men's basketball.

The "open letter" bemoaned the fact that Coach Gene Bess had received a written reprimand because of his treatment of a basketball player who left his team.. The letter alluded to "discussion over the past 10 years of the eventual downgrading of the college athletic program to NJCAA Division II competition." We can state unequivocally that there never has been any action or even any consideration by anyone in a position of authority at the college to downgrade the athletic program to Division II. Three Rivers has a lengthy and proud tradition of excellence and competitiveness, not only within our conference but also throughout Division I of NJCAA. We are proud of Three Rivers' student athletes and their many accomplishments. We are proud of Coach Bess' success, and accordingly named our basketball court in his honor. As a matter of record, the men's basketball program, consistently one of the best in the nation, currently is budgeted at nearly $364,000, about $40,000 more than last year. The overall athletic budget in the current fiscal year is $967,506, out of a total college budget of$17.5 million. Additionally, the college spent $110,000 last year for safety and comfort improvements in the Bess Activity Center, where the games are played, and in 2005 completed major improvements in both men's and women's locker rooms.

The discontinuance of women's volleyball, cited as "another move" to harm athletics at TRCC, was a difficult but necessary decision we made last year because of excessive costs for a marginal program with little public support.

It is unfortunate that a private personnel matter involving what the Board of Trustees deemed inappropriate and unprofessional behavior by Coach Bess toward a student athlete has been misrepresented and publicized. Under ordinary circumstances, any discussions or actions between the board or administration and an employee remain confidential. Because of the nature of this incident, the investigative report on the situation was made a part of the board of trustees meeting minutes and therefore is available to the public on request.

What led to the reprimand of Gene Bess? Coach Bess treated a local player; who announced he was leaving the team to accept a full three-year scholarship at a four-year university, rudely. He apparently lost his temper, berated the young man, banned him from the TRCC gym although the college was still in session, and generally acted in an unprofessional and unacceptable manner. The young man was devastated and described the incident to his parents. When reports of the incident began circulating in the college district, our board ordered an administrative investigation into the matter, which was accomplished in a highly professional manner. When the facts were determined and a formal report was presented to the board, a written reprimand was given to Coach Bess and he was asked to apologize to the affected parties. He refused. Subsequently, Joe Rozman, the vice-president for student affairs, wrote letters of apology to the student, his parents and the head coach at the four-year school, whom Coach Bess also had criticized.

Bess' written reprimand was hand-carried to him in late June. The document was treated as sensitive and private, with another copy sealed in an envelope and placed in the locked personnel files of the college. None was distributed elsewhere. Sadly, a spurious and anonymous letter with a copy of the reprimand attached was mailed to Raiders Booster Club members in mid-August. That letter was addressed "Dear Booster Members" and signed "A concerned booster member." The letter stated "the board and the administration ... may very well take over and dismantle the athletic program soon." Such an allegation is patently absurd, which Webster defines as "so clearly untrue or unreasonable as to be laughable or ridiculous."

The issue at hand is the reprimand, which Coach Bess received due to a serious lapse in judgment. Many TRCC employees have received reprimands over the years. They accept them and correct their mistakes. Unfortunately, Coach Bess seems not to be able to accept administrative criticism. He and a tiny minority of his boosters are attempting to make his reprimand a referendum on the men's basketball program. Coach Bess' accomplishments are legendary. He has won more games than any college coach. He is held in high esteem by the community and by members of his church, where he is a dedicated and active participant. Notable also are the many accomplishments of his colleagues at TRCC. They, too, are respected members of their churches.

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 a deacon in his church. And, we trust that this letter will answer your questions on this matter.

Three Rivers is strong, with solid financial reserves and a record enrollment for the current semester. It's time we put this reprimand matter to rest and get on with the primary mission of our college: the education of our students.

For the record, James Grassham, the current chairman of our six-member Board of Trustees, is a cousin of former TRCC employee John Barham, one of the authors of the "open letter" to which we are responding.

(Signed)

Stephen C. Cookson, vice-chairman John R. Stanard, secretary Bill G. Hollida, Sr., treasurer Marion L. Tibbs, member Thomas R. Turner, member