Here is the introductory part of the Infraction Committee's response:
"As noted in the infractions report (Exhibit 1, p. 16), this case involved all of the factors identified by the COI (and by the IAC) as particularly relevant to imposition of a vacation penalty in a major case:
- There were a large number of violations committed by three institutional staff members and at least 61 student athletes in 10 different sports;
- The violations were serious and intentional;
- Student athletes competed while academically inelegible;
- There was an unconetested finding of institutional failure to monitor various aspects of the AASS program;
- There was widespread academic fraud; and
- Three institutional staff members in the AASS program engaged in unethical conduct by encouraging and/or participating in the academic fraud. Their involvement was especially egregious because of their positions as individuals charged specifically with maintaining academic integrity in the athletics program.
In light of these aggravating factors, the university cannot begin to make its required showing that the vacation of records is "excessive such that it constitutes an abuse of discretion" by the Committee on Infractions. Thus, [FSU] takes every opportunity to try to minimize the violations and to deflect attention from the wrongdoing by portrayiong this case as some sort of "philosophical" battle between the COI and the IAC. At bottom, though, this case is about dozens of student-athletes (aided by their academic advisors) cheating, gaining fraudulent academic credit, and then competing while ineligible due to their academic misconduct. Under such circumstances, what possibly could be fair about allowing the contest results to stand?"
