University President Menaced -- Wife Pleads for Intimidation to End

LINK

By Hank Lowenkron

The Associated Press

I N D I A N A P O L I S, Sept. 16  Indiana University President Myles Brand and his wife have been living in fear, driven from their campus home since the firing of basketball coach Bob Knight.

Peg Brand, the university presidents wife and a philosophy professor at the school, pleaded for an end to the threats against her family and others linked to Knights firing.

I have been forced to teach my class with a policeman at my side, she said. This is not right.

More than 2,000 students marched in protest against Knights dismissal, burning effigies and knocking over light poles outside the presidents campus residence. The Brands have also received threatening e-mails.

You can imagine how a victim feels when a large group gathers and starts demonstrating like they did, campus police Lt.Jerry Minger said. Any rational human being would have fear after that.

He said an officer is staying at the presidents home.

Student Threatened

In addition, Minger said police are investigating fliers, e-mail and voice mail containing threats against freshman Kent Harvey, whose run-in with Knight led to the coachs dismissal. The student and his family have changed their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.

The coach was fired after 29 years at the school for abusivebehavior toward students and others. He was accused of grabbing Harveys arm and berating him for addressing him as Knight.

School trustees have now adopted a code of conduct, saying coaches and athletes must treat others with dignity and respect. The 11-page report states that behavior by coaches that is verbally or physically threatening, abusive or belligerent is never appropriate.

On Friday, Myles Brand said it was time for the university to move on.

Make no mistake about it, Indiana University is primarily and most importantly an academic university, he said.

-- (hmm@hmm.hmm), September 17, 2000