Related: Wright's termination letter and other correspondence.
The University of Tennessee has fired the director of the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and hired a local lawyer to investigate whether she had improper relationships with student-athletes.
Jenny Wright, an office employee since 2008, tried to step down from her position Thursday, but UT refused to accept her resignation. Instead, Provost Susan Martin sent Wright a pre-termination letter Friday.
“Based on information we have received to date, and based on your refusal to cooperate in an investigation into allegations regarding your actions, the university has reason to believe that grounds exist to terminate your employment for unsatisfactory work-related behavior,” Martin wrote in an email Friday.
Wright was given the chance to meet Monday to discuss her status, but she did not show up, documents show. Martin sent another letter Monday informing Wright that she was fired.
The university began looking into accusations of improper behavior before hiring Beecher Bartlett,a Knoxville attorney with a background in employment cases, last week.
UT declined to release any documents related to the probe while it’s ongoing. Bartlett also declined to give any details about the accusations, how many students may be involved and how the officials first learned of the alleged behavior.
The office is within UT’s Division of Student Life.
Wright hired her own lawyer last week. Robert Kurtz, also of Knoxville, said Monday he did not know the details of the allegations but on his client’s behalf, he “categorically denied” Wright had done anything improper.
He said Wright stepped down because she did not want her work with students and victims of crimes to be overshadowed by the accusations against her.
“She didn’t think the climate at UT was such that her reputation would be preserved. UT didn’t have any interest in protecting that,” Kurtz said. “Even if everything is proved to be completely false, the damage to your reputation can’t be undone, and you can’t un-ring that bell. That’s why these allegations are so powerful.”
Wright has undergraduate and law degrees from UT, and in her resignation letter wrote that she’d been employed as a student worker, graduate assistant and professional staffer there since 2001. Wright had worked in the office of student judicial affairs since 2008, where she advised the Student Disciplinary Board, the Panhellenic Judicial Board and the Student Tribunal. She made $70,000 a year.
They also are responsible for ensuring that disciplinary policies set forth in the student handbook are observed and that student rights are protected. Additionally, according to the university, the director and associate director coordinate the investigation of cases and monitor students on disciplinary probation.
UT removed Wright’s name from the judicial affairs website, and her Twitter account was deactivated Monday afternoon.
George Thomas retrial: Day 1
Prom 2013
George Thomas Retrial : Day Two
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 84
ROADFOREMAN_KNOWS_ALL writes:
First we get Haslam-Pilot-Flying J. Now this.
Local drama just can't be beat.
elloallo writes:
Well. It looks like she'll have a taste of working in the real world. She went from professional student to employed where she went to school. She needs a real job. At face value it looks like she forgot she wasn't a student anymore. 70,000 a year? Nice gig if you can get it. No wonder tuition costs so much if you pay people that all they do is work on "advisory boards" 70 grand a year.
Henley-Street-Bridge writes:
Is Mouse's Ear hiring?
poboy writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
collegegrad writes:
Well, her career working in a university/college setting is over as no other school will hire her as a result of this, blacklisting her. They may also revoke her pension as a result of this as well. However, she can go to work as a grill cook/cashier at McDonald's, waitress at Hooter's, greeter, stock person, or sales clerk at Wal-Mart, housekeeping or desk clerk at one of the local motels, or getting a job as grocery clerk at one of the grocery stores! Plenty of new careers for her!
CJMat writes:
The mean-spirited comments on here sadden me. I have no opinion or knowledge regarding whether Ms. Wright engaged in behavior which justified her termination, but there's no reason to make simply nasty and mean comments about her and her future. I worked with her a few times and found her to be bright, capable, helpful, and good at her job. My thoughts and prayers are with her.
Oldhickory writes:
I agree. Maybe the KNS sports writers could give us a little more information to the stabbing incident between two Vandy thugs at a bar in Trashville? The KNS is always quick to give coverage to any article written by Tennessean sports partisan David Climer criticizing UT, but it never seems to return the favor to Vandy. Come on guys. Pick this up as breaking news then run it for a week or two like the Tennessean would do if it was a UT player. http://www.tennessean.com/article/201...
voloffaith writes:
Sadly our society has alot of malcontents who delight in kicking others while they are down and out. Innocent til proven guilty in America, but many of our poster children are already calling for the gallows. Wonder if it was them if their perspective might not be as harsh. Obviously something harmful to the university occurred to force the move to remove. Facts/details will come out later. Will we be compassionate and forgivng? Or will we have the tar and feathers ?
Classof81 writes:
This series of incidents extends further up the food chain than student athlete(s.)
Stay tuned viewers.
cejensen writes:
Oldhickory writes:
in response to ROADFOREMAN_KNOWS_ALL:
First we get Haslam-Pilot-Flying J. Now this.
Local drama just can't be beat.
I agree. Maybe the KNS sports writers could give us a little more information to the stabbing incident between two Vandy thugs at a bar in Trashville? The KNS is always quick to give coverage to any article written by Tennessean sports partisan David Climer criticizing UT, but it never seems to return the favor to Vandy. Come on guys. Pick this up as breaking news then run it for a week or two like the Tennessean would do if it was a UT player.
----------------------------
We understand the drift of your post. You want the KNS sports writer to ignore UT thugs while concentrating on thugs from other schools. Great idea, that'll really improve things, lol.
If Nashburg papers seem to publish a lot of things about UT Thugs, had you considered that they have column space to fill up and UT gives them a lot more material to work with than Vandy?
sigfreud writes:
She is far from a professional student. 4-5 years for her undergrad work and 3 for her JD is a good student. Professional students never finish any degrees. 70K with a JD is low. You seem to think 70K is a lot of money. Maybe to you it is.
NomDePlume writes:
Wait wait wait one dadgummed minute! Student athletes have been receiving special treatment!?!? This is truly upsetting news to me.
JK. Sounds like this poor girl is getting thrown under the Big Orange Bus.
godlesscommie writes:
I noticed the previous thread was killed before it started. Anyway, without any real facts on hand, I would say that ut has another mess on its hands. Sounds like to me that preferential treatment was being handed to athletes and something went wrong. As usual, ut is trying to get rid of any evidence before this latest scandel becomes public. So what I see coming is a out of court settlement, non disclosure agreement and of course a cash pay out. More money thrown down the rathole of athletics.
thevoice writes:
Stay classy, sig.
ChuckyD writes:
Some sources say this is why Trae Golden transferred.
sigfreud writes:
I was defending her education. 70K for a JD is on the low end. She is far from being overpaid. If anything she is under paid. But I do think she is being thrown under the bus.
upfront writes:
Was this part of "Sex Week"?
overthetop writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
ROADFOREMAN_KNOWS_ALL writes:
Under the bus? Naaawwww! U-T would never ever do that. (sarcasm)
This is only going to get better.
ChuckyD writes:
70k for a cushy, low stress, high benefit government job. Yes, that would be low for working in the real world.
keepitreal4vols writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
jmgroper#472786 writes:
People (especially if its on the radio) might want to watch the accusations without evidence. There are libel, slander and defamation laws.
As far as the pic, yeah...she's hawt. Try to sue me for THAT.
wildwoodflower writes:
what happened to being innocent until proven guilty. some of the comments are really mean spirited.
TnDan writes:
Its not just the comments on here. The first paragraph of the article states UT fired her and THEN hired a firm to investigate if the allegations are true.
dantzknox writes:
her career is not over - she could still be a Judge.
MisterTibbs writes:
"Its not just the comments on here. The first paragraph of the article states UT fired her and THEN hired a firm to investigate if the allegations are true."
Why would somebody submit thier resignation doing a 70k/year job? The reason UT fired her was to get in the first shot and not let her resign without repercussions.
Steelforge1 writes:
Had I received "Special Treatment" while in college I may have done better. LOL
sigfreud writes:
Actually she would be paid more since the private sector pays more than the public for the same work. Or are you jealous she has an education which gives her better pay and benefits than you earn? All while at the same time you pay 3-4 times as much in your income in taxes than the top 20 and you thank them and advocate that the top 20 should pay less. Ah the low mentality of the right.
osunut2#223683 writes:
WATE posted this information last night.
http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/wate/n...
Based on the timeline, an investigation was (and still is) on-going before she even attempted to resign. She attempted to resign on May 9. Her resignation was rejected, and she was fired the following day:
"Based on information we have received to date, and based on your refusal to cooperate in an investigation into allegations regarding your actions, the University has reason to believe that grounds exist to terminate your employment for unsatisfactory work-related behavior..."
She was given the opportunity to meet with University officials the following Monday (May 13), but she and her attorney declined.
To clarify, according to these documents, the investigation began before she attempted to resign and before she was fired (the email at the bottom of pdf eludes to this: "Specifically, Mr. Bartlett informed me that you indicated that Ms. Wright may tender her resignation to the University in lieu of cooperating with the University’s investigation into whether she had inappropriate relationships with student‐athletes."). Granted, she is still innocent until proven guilty, but the University obviously believes that it had cause to fire her.
ROADFOREMAN_KNOWS_ALL writes:
If you will recall, ole Trae was given the heave-ho for "academic reasons." That involves either academic integrity or failure to make proper progress towards a degree. I'd double-check your sources.
The scuttle-butt around town is all over the place.
SidelineReporter writes:
For the record, "Innocent until proven guilty" is the stated position of the law...not the actual guilt. If you did the crime, you are guilty even if the legal system fails to prosecute or to convict (see Simpson, Orenthal James).
vq4nfo writes:
With all of the right credentials now, I think she has a future in TN politics. She should run for Stacy's job.
ChuckyD writes:
That's what I meant, her pay would be low given her credentials if she worked in the real world producing something. But it's a bit high for a UT salary.
Why would I be jealous of someone with a slightly better degree than mine making much less than me at a place I would never, ever want to work at? Also, I had no clue that I was a right winger since I have frequently been called quite the opposite. But please keep going and informing me of what I don't know about myself.
You must be new here.....
ChuckyD writes:
It's interesting, because according to the same source and article, his father denied the academic reasons.
Yes, it's all speculation, and it's the ugliest time for it as a story like this breaks and little is known.
http://www.sbnation.com/college-baske...
Swamp_ash writes:
UT-Knoxville seems to have a perpetual image problem in terms of behavioral scandals ranging from presidents, coaches, administrator, students and staff. Yet, oddly, the school remains highly popular and attracts more students than it can serve.
Thus, perhaps we need to realize the "failings" we see may not be institutional, but rather, societal manifestations.
Ladytiffknee writes:
I'll reserve my comments for a later time when more information is available. UT has been in the news here recently for concerns over firing and retaliation - on the other side of the coin. I don't think anyone can take the high road, just yet. And I hope that the person in question isn't being made a scapegoat to thwart attention from a problem that may involve several, if not many, UT employees who may be working in poor conditions...
cejensen writes:
Swamp_ash writes:
UT-Knoxville seems to have a perpetual image problem in terms of behavioral scandals ranging from presidents, coaches, administrator, students and staff. Yet, oddly, the school remains highly popular and attracts more students than it can serve.
Thus, perhaps we need to realize the "failings" we see may not be institutional, but rather, societal manifestations.
---------------------------
Probably so, yet locals think we should keep hiring locals for important positions like school superintendent. I think not. Single cross hybrids are are always stronger than inbreds.
DukeDeLuca2 writes:
Let's see. You put a great looking, sexy young woman in constant contact with highly sexed, well-chiseled athletes drenched in testosterone and expect emotional and physical interaction not to take place?
Who's being foolish here?
overthetop writes:
As usual, too stupid to even comment on. At least your consistent.
sct37917#628171 writes:
YT protects UT,Her main problem is that she got UT negative publicity.That is a major crime at UT,THIN SKINNED as they are.
knox99 writes:
http://www.outkickthecoverage.com/vol...
8inarow writes:
Does any coach leave UT in good standing any more? If they aren't jumping ship, they are fired, are suing, or both.
RespectYourElders writes:
Not necessarily so. Most people thought Mark Sanford of South Carolina's career was over, too. But, he just won the 1st congressional district race.
cannotstaysilentanymore writes:
There's a lot of speculation....and very little fact. Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" As usual, the trolls have taken over the comment section.
I have known Ms. Wright to be gracious and kind and courteous. She deserves better than to be lambasted in the media...and by anyone with access to the internet.
overthetop writes:
Well. She's apparently kind, courteous and accomodating. Sorry, but usually where there's smoke there's fire. I of course don't know the facts either but it sure doesn't look too good for Ms. Wright does it?
Hoops43 writes:
She was just living the Rocky Top dream:
Once there was a girl on rocky top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that."
overthetop writes:
Interesting reading and pics.
http://outkickthecoverage.com/vols-fi...
oldster writes:
I wish I had made $70k the first few years after I got my JD. I would have been flying (of course, I started my own business from scratch and it was 1980 when a dollar was worth 50 cents and not the dime it is worth today). However, $70k is not necessarilty excessive. It depends upon what her duties were and how well she carried them out. As I, and almost certainly most of those who have posted here, do not know what those were, I think it is inappropriate to assume that UT was just giving money away.
I will also point out that as a possessor of a JD all she needs to do, in order to have a job, is to pass the bar exam and get approval of the Supreme Court (this does require having a good character, which this incident may cloud). She might not make $70k right off, but she should be able to make a living.
Hugo_Draxx writes:
Wow. I'll hold onto my reserves and keep the powder dry until we know more. All we know is it's 'bad'; just 'how bad' is the real question. For them to preempt her does merit a serious glance by those here. Moreover, there are 2 striking points in this story; 1. Her overall duties in the position...e.g. the 'disciplinary review' portion. Thinking this might be the sticking point. Somewhere in there lies the foundation for UTK's abrupt discharge. We can all blab about 'improper behavior' but we don't know what constitutes that according to UT's definition 2. Several have mentioned how 'low' her salary is for a JD in this position. Well, she's been on-staff since '01 presumably as an undergrad, then moved up in the ranks during her Law School years. Sounds as if the comforts of professional relationships, and the perks associated with the position might have made up for the alleged lack in compensation. Personally, to have never ventured outside the institution, as a student or employee, and not currently practicing lawyer, that's not bad dollar wise-remember this is Ktown we live and read in.(not wealth envy there either) JD aside, all I've read from this is she was essentially an administrator at best. If/when she's proven in fact to have rigged, greased, or altered the system, I'll light up the first torch to ignite the brush in the stake pit. Put yourself in this dark place: we've all made some snafu but it didn't merit KNS or the world rendering judgement without knowing MOST facts. I'm a realist and this is UT; we'll never know ALL the facts. This is the end of the Academic year so you take out the 'trash'& clean up before August. Business is accustomed to such changes but smooth them out based on time-lines best for them. Until then folks, wear a thinking cap & not a tin-foil hat until we get a clear(er) pic of what's going on here.
sdjc#587498 writes:
I agree.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.