Team leader wanted due process

Little 500 teams, students and administrators have accused the IU Student Foundation of banning former Team Major Taylor director Courtney Bishop without due process.\nBishop was notified by letter Dec. 22, 2005, that he received a lifetime ban from all Little 500-related activities for allegedly offering scholarships to students in exchange for participation in the race. Bishop was never interviewed by IUSF officials or notified of any process prior to the decision and receiving the letter. IUSF director Rob Rhamy said the foundation will not allow Bishop to appeal the decision since he is an alumnus and not a student, and therefore not protected by IUSF regulations.\nBishop said he is angered by the lack of due process.\n"It's very disturbing, not only to me, but to anybody," he said. "There was absolutely no due process and I think that is very, very disconcerting.\n"I mean, this time it's me, but next time, it could be you."\nIUSF took no action against members of the team.\nDante Pryor and Julio German, TMT riders in 2002, told University officials they were offered full scholarships to cover tuition and room and board to ride in Little 500, but Bishop never completely fulfilled his promise.\nOffering scholarships for riding in the race is a violation of IUSF rules, Rhamy said.\nWhen Pryor and German contacted Dean of Students Richard McKaig about feeling "taken advantage of," it prompted a University investigation at the request of IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis and Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs Charlie Nelms.\nMcKaig, along with IU Vice Chancellor Edwardo Rhodes, conducted interviews in late December 2004 to find out exactly what happened. They talked with several riders and Bishop and their final report was filed May 16, 2005.\nMcKaig said the report, which he couldn't provide a copy of, simply clarified the details surrounding the case, but made no verdict on guilt. The report, he said, found that IUSF would be more qualified to determine guilt and decide upon any punishment.\nRhamy said that he and race coordinator Lucas Calhoun made the decision after interviewing a few riders, but mostly the decision was based off of IU's report.\nBishop has not said if he plans to appeal the decision, but Rhamy said the student arbitration process, which all Little 500 riders can call upon if they disagree with a decision, does not apply to Bishop as an alumnus. Rhamy said the University investigation was more than enough of a fair hearing for Bishop.\n"He had gone well above breaking the rules," Rhamy said. \nHe said it is to the benefit of TMT that Bishop is banned because he had a negative effect on many riders, including forcing some students to drop out because scholarship promises weren't fulfilled.\nBishop said that, judging from the University investigation, he cannot understand how he was banned from the race.\n"I think the University found zero fault with anything in the report," he said. "I think that issuing a lifetime ban is very extreme when they found zero fault."\nMcKaig said there was little communication between the authors of the report and IUSF and that he was only notified by the decision through the same letter sent to Bishop and the rest of the TMT riders. Rhamy said he looked at the report, but never worked with McKaig or Rhodes to make a decision.\nNelms, who asked for the investigation, expressed disappointment about the lack of due process.\n"I have spent my entire life fighting to ensure equal treatment for all people and I certainly believe that Courtney deserves a fair hearing," he said.\nOther Little 500 riders and teams, including representatives of Team Marshall, an all-black women's team, expressed frustration with the decision-making process. Other teams weren't as upset because they said they felt TMT was unfairly breaking the race rules.\nBishop said he doesn't know if TMT still plans on competing in the race. The deadline for registration is the week of Feb. 6, but Rhamy said IUSF is flexible with late registration.\nRhamy said that he sincerely hopes TMT decides to ride, emphasizing what he sees as a strong commitment to diversity in the race.\n"Team Major Taylor's participation is a very high priority to us," he said. "What the riders have done for the race has been great."\nBishop said he will abide by IUSF's decision and stay away from his former teammates, even though they are close friends of his whom he said he really cares for. Despite the punishment, Bishop said he will continue to work with diversity at IU.\n"I've been involved in diversity initiatives since 1986," he said. "Even by the admission of the IU Student Foundation, I've done a great job. I will continue along that path, doing what I call human services, even if I can't be a part of Little 500"