Questions raised about University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey coach's resignation
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008
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FAIRBANKS -- The University of Alaska Fairbanks' documents relating to the departure of former head hockey coach Doc DelCastillo include written, e-mail and telephone correspondence between DelCastillo, an unnamed student or students and university administrators, according to a university letter copied to the Daily News-Miner.
The newspaper has filed a public records request for documents leading up to the coach's resignation. University officials are continuing to review that request and have not released any documents.
However, a Tuesday letter from administrator Jake Poole to UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers, and copied to the News-Miner, includes a list describing Documents that Poole, who is UAF vice chancellor for university advancement, considered for possible public disclosure under the request. The list contained items Poole recommended for release and some that he did not.
Among the items listed are an e-mail from an administrator regarding a student communication; "chancellor notes of a conversation with observer;" an e-mail from a student; "handwritten notes from student;" and memos and a letter to DelCastillo. Other items listed include an e-mail from UAF athletic director Forrest Karr to DelCastillo regarding a meeting, e-mail interchanges between Poole and Karr regarding a meeting with DelCastillo and a summary of evaluation comments by players.
"This is just a step in the process," said Kate Ripley, UA director of public affairs. The News-Miner has a option to respond to this latest step, or the the chancellor may issue a final decision as soon as Aug. 1, she said.
Jason Gazewood, DelCastillo's attorney, declined comment on Wednesday until he consulted with his client.
DelCastillo cited family reasons when he announced his resignation on April 10 after one season with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association program. His wife, Sue, is expecting the couple's sixth child in late August or early September, and he said they wanted to be closer to relatives in the Midwest for family support.
DelCastillo, 39, is a native of St. Paul, Minn. He was an assistant coach for five seasons for Nebraska-Omaha before he was named in June 2007 to replace Tavis MacMillan, who resigned that April after three seasons as the Nanooks head coach.
DelCastillo's status, according to Poole, was under review earlier in the week that he announced his resignation. On April 9, the Western College Hockey Web site reported in a blog that "the reason for the coaching change
wasn't hockey-related, but some sort of human resources issue."
In response to hearing about the Web site's report, Karr said in an April 11 News-Miner article that "Doc's resignation was a mutually agreed upon decision by the university and Doc. An employee's resignation is a personnel issue, and the university doesn't discuss personnel issues."
The News-Miner submitted the records request on April 14, and the university declined the request on May 5, citing the Alaska Public Records Act and Regents Policy No. 06.02.40. The News-Miner appealed on May 31, citing Alaska Statute 39.25.110, which states that the statutes that protect the confidentiality of personnel files are inapplicable if an employee is in the exempt service. Officers and employees of the University of Alaska system are in the exempt service.
Community Discussion
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(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Explanation for removal please?
Why do I not remember the Daily News Miner delving into the Rick Solie DUI case in the same way as they're looking into this story?
Apparently I outed the story a little too soon for the DNM. This story is much, much bigger the Solie DUI. I really hope that Mr. Martin follows this all the way through.
This is the one story I was actually waiting for since I found out about the FoIA request by the DNM.
DNM is geting way to PC for my taste this old rag is not worth much time these days. They remove a lot of posts citing there user agreement that do not seem to violate it. I am sure this one will not last long either. censorship?
Pat
The comments were removed because they contain anonymous accusations of wrongdoing that amount to personal attacks on an individual. If you have questions, my e-mail is jstricker@newsminer.com or give me a call at 459-7532.
What a bunch of old gossips....You have to know everything about anything so you can post your worthless comments on this site.....Wonder what your past can bring up, maybe a DUI is in your past or shoplifting charge or a dreaded downtown parking ticket..... Kudos to the DNM for watching out for those who would trash their mother if they could just to get themselves noticed.
I am curious about a few things-
1-What is this story really about?
2-why did the DNM publish a teaser?
3-10 years from now can we rehash this story and how racist it is?
LOL p3t!
Bravo!
and DNM, good job keeping up with this!
And Solie was a different circumstance. The key thing was the videotape of the DUI arrest, which they never released. A lawsuit was started, saying he was a public official.. so he resigned from the borough.. and thus was no longer a public official.
Nevermind the fact that he's running chamber of commerce and in the headlines all the time... (now, at least, he wasn't doing that at the time).
It pays to have friends on the hill, apparently.
Let's stay on topic, please.
Has there been any indication on whether or not UAF will comply on their own, or if they will be fight the FoIA request further?
Any information on when the rest of this badly kept secret will be printed?
Poor Ol'Doc,he's a victim of his own good looks.Don't you know everybody would like to get a little piece of Yoda!
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