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Adam Weyer, M,Ed,, ATCHead Athlet ic Trainer

Assistant Professor in Athlet ic TrainingAssociate Athlet ic Director

PO Box 338

ATHLETIC TRAI N' 'AIGDue West, SC 29639

864 -379-8890 Off ice864 -379-2197 Faxweyer@erskine.edu

September 27,2010

Mrs. Tracy SpiresDirector of Institutional ResearchErskine College

Mrs. Spires:

The purpose of this letter is to frle a grievance on behalf of the Erskine CollegeAthletic Training Department and the Department of Athletics against Dr. WilliamCrenshaw, Dorn-Reeder Professor of English, as a result of his actions that began onFriday, September 24h andhave continued to date.

On the morning of Friday, September 24h, ustudent-athlete slipped and fellduring an early team practice before classes began. The student-athlete was monitoredfor the remainder of practice by the head coach, who is certified in First Aid and CPR. Atthe end of practice, the coach felt that the student-athlete was not showing any symptomsof an ir{ury that necessitated immediate referral to a hospital. Per our protocol the headcoach informed her staffathletic trainer, Nicole Matuseski, ATC, of the injury' Thecoach was told to instruct the student-athlete to report to the athletic training room assoon as possible for follow-up evaluation. The above steps follow our normal protocol inregards to a potential head injoty sustained by one ofour student-athletes.

During class, the student-athlete began to become, according to Dr. Crenshaw,disoriented and lethargic. As aresult, Dr. Crenshaw contacted Dr. Robyn Agnew, VicePresident for Student Services, to inform her of the situation. Dr. Agnew has told me thatshe intended to call me due to the fact that the student was a member of one of ourintercollegiate athletic teams. According to Dr. Agne*, Dr. Crenshaw's response was,and I paraphrase, "'W'e don't need a trainer, we need EMS.... if you aren't going to callthem, then I am." (Had the student been unconscious or not breathing, an EMS callwould have been necessary, but that was not the case.). At that time, Dr. Agnew calledmy office, but I was not there, she then proceeded to call Mr. Scott DeCiantis, AthleticTraining Education Program Director, to inform him of the situation. Meanwhile, Dr.Crenshaw took it upon himself to call the Abbeville County Emergency Medical Systemand request an ambulance. This is breach of the protocol that we have in place and havereviewed with the Office of Student Services in regards to the care of an Erskine Collegestudent-athlete. Once the phone call was made to Dr. Agnew, who knows our protocols,Dr. Crenshaw should have allowed the proper personnel to take over the situation.

When I was notified, minutes after Scott received the phone call, I immediatelywent over to Belk Hall. When I arrived to the classroom, the EMT's had just arrived atthe scene and had just begun their evaluation of the student-athlete. Due to the fact thatour protocol states that once the EMT's arive they assume control of the medicalsituation, I did not interfere and allowed them to do their job. I did discuss with the EMTthat we would like for her to be transported to Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood. Atthis time, I thought that the situation was over and that the student-athlete was beingtransported to the hospital. But, that was not the case.

The following account is according to Nicole Matuseski, ATC, who was awitness. The guardian of the student-athlete was also at the scene of the incident. Shewas advising the student that she had the option to refuse treatment and remove herselffrom the back of the ambulance. At this time, the student stated (and I paraphrase), thatshe wanted to leave the ambulance and accompany her guardian to the oflice of our teamphysician. Once this comment was made by the student, Nicole Matuseski, ATC beganto initiate our protocol for mild head injuries and called our team physician to apprisehim of the situation and was informed that we could take the student-athlete immediatelyto his offrce for firther evaluation. The EMT's would not allow the student-athlete torefuse treatment and it is at this time that Dr. Crenshaw placed himself back into theincident. From what I understand, Dr. Crenshaw and the guardian got involved in adisagreement during which the guardian was physically pushed aside by Dr. Crenshaw ashe climbed into the back of the ambulance with the student-athlete. I was not a witness tothis part of the moming because Dr. Agnew and I were discussing the events in themiddle of the mall while this was taking place in front of Belk Hall. During ourdiscussion, police cars arrived and I realized that things were not taking place as planned.We began to walk to the front of Belk where the ambulance was still parked. When Iarrived in front of Belk Hall, Dr. Crenshaw was still in the back of the ambulanceadvising the student-athlete as to what she needed to do. Meanwhile, her guardian wasnot granted such privileges. After several more minutes of arguing between the guardian,EMT, and Dr. Crenshaw,I accompanied the student-athlete in the ambulance to SelfRegional Hospital.

The Athletic Training Department has a very simple protocol in place in regardsto the treatment of sfudent-athletes. This protocol has been discussed with the Office ofStudent Services, and'they are in agreement with this protocol, which calls for theinvolvement of the Erskine College Athletic Training staffwhenever a student-athletebecomes ill or injwed. When Dr. Crenshaw made the initial phone call to Dr. Agnew,Dr. Agnew knew what the next step was supposed to be and she did the appropriate thingby calling me or a member of my staff. If Dr. Crenshaw would have allowed the systemto work, there would have been no problems. Instead, he didn't like the protocol that wasestablished and decided to take matters into his own hands. By doing this, he createdseveral losses that will have to be absorbed by Erskine College and the Erskine CollegeAthletic Department. These losses include: time, money for medical bills, and a possibleretention issue with the student-athlete.

A second reason for this grievance is that Dr. Crenshaw has continued to slanderthe Erskine College Athletic Training staffthrough a series of e-mails that were sent toseveral members of the administration of Erskine College, including Dean Christie, DeanAgnew, and Dr. David Norman. In these e-mails Dr. Crenshaw insinuates that the

athletic training staJf is not properly educated, trained, or otherwise prepared to providecare for the student-athletes of Erskine College. He asserts that the policies andprocedures that we have in place "endanger" our student-athletes. He further claims thatour protocols cause more harm to our student-athletes than help. These remarks are veryslanderous to the athletic training staff and feel that Dr. Crenshaw needs to be heldresponsible for these remarks.

A third reason for this grievance is that Dr. Crenshaw has now begun to makeslanderous remarks both online and in his classes regarding our abilities to treat currentstudent-athletes. Several students have reported to members of the athletic training staffand coaches that Dr. Crenshaw was questioning student-athletes regarding the reasonsthey go to the athletic taining staff instead of going straight to a doctor when they areinjured or sick. By doing so, Dr. Crenshaw is creating a situation of distrust between theathletic training staffand current student-athletes. This could hinder our ability toproperly treat our student-athletes. He, reportedly, has also been discussing Friday'sincident in his English classes. ln doing so, he has violated the student's privacy bymentioning her name, details, etc. He has begun to involve more people in this situation,showing regrettably bad judgment, and creating great potential to exacerbate thesituation.

ln closing, the actions of Dr. William Crenshaw that began on the moming ofFriday, September 24tr.,2010 and have continued until this day are inappropriate, andshow egregious lack ofjudgment. His actions are affecting current and future students.As a result of his actions, the student-athlete is considering withdrawing from ErskineCollege and if she does so, at least one other might go with her. This is not a time whenErskine College can afford to lose students due to actions of a professor who actsindependently as he sees fit, regardless of the scope of his job description or establishedprotocols. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate beinginformed as to what the next step is in this process and when I can expect that to takeplace.

Sincerely,

Adam H. Weyer, ATCHead Athletic Trainer

Mark PeelerDirector of Athletics