What does regent Garrett Adcock really stand for?
His support of Bob Davie disappoints all levels of the UNM student body
We write in response to several comments made in the media by University of New Mexico Student Regent Garrett Adcock.
As students at UNM, we’re used to an Athletics Department constantly embroiled in controversy. The allegations against head coach Bob Davie were skin-crawling.
Garrett chose to respond to the “extensive negative coverage” of Bob Davie a short two weeks after the head coach was suspended. Regent Adcock had originally chosen to abstain from a vote to discipline the coach but felt strongly enough to come to Davie’s support in the most public of ways.
His Feb. 21 op-ed column ignores the voices of the victims and positions Davie as innocent when the university had already taken valid disciplinary action against him. It’s clear he doesn’t understand the power of his words.
Why else would Garrett, a former player and member of the university’s most powerful governing body, jump in on the Bob Davie commentary? Why else would a regent — charged with making the most important university decisions — go to the media in defense of a coach under serious allegations about racial slurs and offensive comments toward victims?
Words matter, and this regent’s words have been disappointing at all levels to the student body.
In any institution, culture change starts from the top down. Leaders need to be advocates for the issues that matter. Our student regent has the tools necessary to create lasting change not only for students, but for New Mexicans.
His defense of Bob Davie only signals a commitment to playing politics on behalf of UNM athletics.
We call on Regent Adcock to make a clear statement to the university community that he stands for victims of sexual harassment. We urge the student regent to work across departments on campus to promote a culture change on this issue from the top down.
If Regent Adcock won’t stand up for victims of sexual assault, then what will he stand for?