Public image
University needs to protect name

TCU is getting just what it wanted ... publicity. Trouble is, it’s probably not the kind of publicity the university wanted.

Former head coach Dennis Franchione and former linebackers coach Mark Parks were formally accused of racial discrimination and harassment Nov. 15 — just two weeks before they accepted coaching positions at the University of Alabama. According to a report from the Houston Chronicle, Allen and Adrian Lewis, Frogs linebackers, describe three years of mistreatment and racist comments that they attribute to Parks.

Though Franchione’s lawyer advised him not to comment, Parks said he “100 percent totally” denies the allegations.
Somebody please page the spin doctors.

After nearly a year of promoting the university to the nation, it is difficult to hide this reputation fender-bender from the public eye.

The story has been in newspapers, on TV and on the Internet. Of course, the same goes for any public figure; just ask Robert Downey Jr., Hugh Grant or Charlie Sheen. A well-known figure gets attention for every wrong turn.
Here lies a new responsibility of the university. Our name is out there, and it is now time to protect it.

In order for the university to maintain and improve its public image, it is necessary to ensure that these charges can never be made again.

Now, however, the question is not whether or not it happened or how things should or should not have been interpreted.

It is now a matter of how the university represents itself.

Otherwise, we might just get what we’re asking for.

Editorial policy: The content of the Opinion page does not necessarily represent the views of Texas Christian University. Unsigned editorials represent the view of the TCU Daily Skiff editorial board. Signed letters, columns and cartoons represent the opinion of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board.

Letters to the editor: The Skiff welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be typed, double-spaced, signed and limited to 250 words. To submit a letter, bring it to the Skiff, Moudy 291S; mail it to TCU Box 298050; e-mail it to skiffletters@tcu.edu or fax it to 257-7133. Letters must include the author’s classification, major and phone number. The Skiff reserves the right to edit or reject letters for style, taste and size restrictions.