Indiana University President Threatened
I N D I A N A P O L I S, Sept. 16 -- Indiana University President Myles Brand andhis wife have been living in fear, driven from their campus homesince the firing of basketball coach Bob Knight.
Peg Brand, the university president’s wife and a philosophyprofessor at the school, pleaded for an end to thethreats against her family and others linked to Knight’s firing.
“I have been forced to teach my class with a policeman at myside,” she said. “This is not right.”
More than 2,000 students marched in protestagainst Knight’s dismissal, burning effigies and knocking overlight poles outside the president’s campus residence. The Brandshave also received threatening e-mails.
“You can imagine how a victim feels when a large group gathersand starts demonstrating like they did,” campus police Lt.Jerry Minger said. “Any rational human being would have fear afterthat.”
He said an officer is staying at the president’s home.
Student Threatened
In addition, Minger said police are investigating fliers, e-mailand voice mail containing threats against freshman Kent Harvey,whose run-in with Knight led to the coach’s dismissal. The studentand his family have changed their telephone numbers and e-mailaddresses.
The coach was fired after 29 years at the school for abusivebehavior toward students and others. He was accused of grabbingHarvey’s arm and berating him for addressing him as “Knight.”
School trustees have now adopted a code of conduct, sayingcoaches and athletes must treat others with dignity and respect.The 11-page report states that behavior by coaches that is verballyor physically threatening, abusive or belligerent is neverappropriate.
On Friday, Myles Brand said it was time for the university tomove on.
“Make no mistake about it, Indiana University is primarily andmost importantly an academic university,” he said.
