Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is being investigated because one of his assistant coaches apparently was abusive to his wife. The question is whether Urban knew about it, because if he did, he was obligated by the university to take some sort of action. We do not know what the facts are but this story reminds us again of how the world is changing. Many of us grew up in a world where the “normal” behavior was not to become involved in issues and problems not directly related to us. Many people would not report someone who cheated on a test, for example, or someone who broke a rule. Few would not get involved in someone’s marriage. But the standards and expectations have changed, and those in positions of responsibility are expected, if not obligated, to report any behavior which is known to them which is inappropriate. Teachers must report child abuse when they detect it, and employers increasingly require employees to report any kind of illegal or inappropriate conduct. This is a good thing, but it sometimes requires courage on the part of the accuser. What are your thoughts on this? Have you known any cases that directly affected you or someone you know? What about bullying – either verbally or physically? Have you and your friends discussed this issue? What is the proper response to this problem – either in person or on social media? Rather than focus on Urban Meyer, we should look at our own environment and ask if there are issues we should be discussing.
Urban Meyer and the Code
August 8, 2018