IUSA, Allenspach to hold open forum on new athletics director

Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Tonight the IU Student Association will host a student forum to discuss the current search for a new athletics director. All students and members of the public are encouraged to attend from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Frangipani Room of the Indiana Memorial Union.

The main goal of the forum is to generate interest in the search and give students the chance to provide input about an athletics director’s roles and responsibilities while focusing on qualities they would like to see in the new AD.

The forum will feature a discussion with IU Athletics Director Search Committee Student Representative Drew Allenspach.

“Students should voice their opinions because this appointment affects them,” Allenspach said. “The new Athletics Director must help Indiana University win over the hearts of the Hoosier Nation. We want students’ help to know what it will take.”

Serving as the sole student on the Athletics Director Search Committee, Allenspach said a larger amount of students in attendance will give him a better idea of the interests and concerns of students regarding the athletics department.

“Everyone knows about IU Athletics,” IUSA President Luke Fields said. “It is really important that the student body voices their opinions as we are the most visible face of this university.”

IU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan announced he would leave his post effective at the end of the calendar year, triggering the formation of the search committee.

Greenspan’s resignation announcement came the same day the NCAA levied an allegation that the University “failed to monitor” the men’s basketball program’s compliance to NCAA rules. This was the final of six allegations against IU regarding the recruitment for the men’s basketball team last year.

“The Athletics Department stands at the face of IU,” IUSA Public Relations Director Stefanie Smith said. “The way that people perceive our athletics program is how they view our school. It is important that we pick someone that we can trust and lead us in a good way.”

Allenspach believes this is an exciting appointment and that it will help turn the page to a new, exciting era for IU.

“If someone has something to say, we want to hear them,” Allenspach said.