CCCAA Denies Bakersfield College Appeal of Athletics Sanctions

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Bakersfield College received official word from the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA) Appeals Board that the college's second round appeal of sanctions to athletics was denied. The communication came via an email on July 19 with an attached memo from CCCAA CEO/President Carlyle Carter to Bakersfield College president Dr. Sonya Christian.

Bakersfield College has approached the appeals process as an opportunity to revisit decisions, through thoughtful review and deliberation. Ultimately, the college seeks to challenge the appeals process to uphold principles of fairness and equity and safeguard student interests, while providing for appropriate sanctions and corrections to institutional controls.

“Unfortunately, the 8-page response glosses over the good faith considerations raised by the college, and the tone of punitive authority and thinly veiled disdain is disconcerting,” said Dr. Sonya Christian, president of Bakersfield College. “While we are disappointed in both the conclusion and tone of the decision, we continue to believe in our student athletes. We will defend what is rightfully theirs, and we believe that these specific sanctions and the sanction process deserve better and more respectful deliberation.”

On July 9, Bakersfield College filed an appeal with the CCCAA Appeals Board containing re-presentation of the arguments presented in the June 12 appeal to the Southern California Football Association (SCFA). Throughout the appeal process, Bakersfield College leadership has maintained that any appropriate penalties for athletics violations should be levied on the institution only, and not on the student athletes who maintain high standards of excellence in the classroom and on the playing field.

According to the CCCAA Appeals Board July 19 communication, Bakersfield College has ten working days from July 22 to submit an appeal to the CCCAA Board of Directors. At this time, Bakersfield College is preparing the appeal. Once submitted, the CCCAA Board of Directors has a maximum of 28 working days within which to respond to Bakersfield College's appeal with a determination.

Bakersfield College will continue to update the community in regard to the appeals process as new development warrant.

The CCCAA Appeals Board communication to Bakersfield College is posted online.

On May 14, Bakersfield College received a communication from the Southern California Football Association, and a second from the California Community College Athletic Association, requiring the college vacate all wins of the 2011 and 2012 football seasons, including the 2012 state championship. The Bakersfield College football team has also been placed on a post-season ban for the 2013 season, and will be on probation for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Story picked up by:

• KGET-TV 17 NBC (Second sanctions appeal denied for Bakersfield College)
• The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield College's second athletics sanctions appeal denied
• KBAK-TV 29 CBS (BC denied in 2nd appeal of football sanctions, plans 3rd appeal)
• KERO-TV 23 ABC (Bakersfield College's second athletics appeal of sanctions denied)
• KERO-TV 23 ABC (Beckwith coming under fire at BC, may be forced to resign any day now)
• First News on First Look with Scott Cox, KERN-AM 1180 (First Look: First News for July 30)
• The Bakersfield Californian (Beckwith expected to resign as Bakersfield College AD)