Locksleygate; an epilogue

Former Assistant Coach J. B. Gerald has filed a federal lawsuit against UNM Head Football Coach Michael Locksley and UNM over a "punching and choking" incident in September 2009, link.

Despite UNM's assertion that it will defend itself and its employees vigorously against Gerald's claims, there is a more likely scenario; they will settle before the actual truth comes out in court.

There never has been an impartial investigation of what happened. The community called for one, the Graduate and Profession Student Association called for one, and common sense points to the need for one. Yet UNM Regents President Raymond Sanchez and UNM President David Schmidly have no intention of conducting one, ever.

The reason seems obvious, they are hiding something.

If an investigation would reveal that the leadership of the UNM has told us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the (ethically redacted) truth, they would be happy to have that fact confirmed. It would do wonders for their diminished reputation.

It would appear though, that would not be the outcome of an impartial investigation, So they will not commission one; nor will they allow the truth to be revealed in court.

So they will settle, and;

• UNM lawyers will make beaucoup bucks, and
• Gerald's lawyers will do even better, and
• Gerald himself will walk away with a lot of cash.
• Taxpayers will foot the bill for the whole thing.
• The Settlement Agreement will contain a phrase reading,

  UNM, despite handing over a huge amount of cash to Gerald and his lawyers, admits no wrongdoing.

• And, the rest of the Settlement Agreement will be kept secret from stakeholders.

Just like the facts are being kept secret from stakeholders by Bernalillo County Manager Thaddeus Lucero while he continues to hide the impartial investigation of the nepotism and scandal in the MATS facility, and

Just like APS School Board President Marty Esquivel and APS Supt Winston Brooks continue to hide the results of the impartial investigation into the scandal in the leadership of the APS Police Department.

We, taxpayers, apparently have the right to foot the bill for the incompetence and corruption, but not the right to know the truth about it.

That's just the way good ol' boys roll.

And if you don't like it, they don't care.

So what are you going to do about it?