The University of North Carolina, which brought in Hill+Knowlton Strategies in 2010 amid an investigation of its football program, has turned to former Bill Clinton advisor Doug Sosnik for PR support during an academic probe drawing national interest.
Peppers, left, presents a $250K check for a UNC scholarship program on Aug. 20, with Richard Williams, chair of the Light on the Hill Society Scholarship board, and Robyn Hadley, chair of the LOTH scholarship's selection committee. (Photo: UNC) |
The online posting this month of the academic transcript of UNC grad and current National Football League star Julius Peppers raised questions about the extent of independent study and no-show classes at the academically prestigious university which were previously investigated internally.
Peppers, who plays for the Chicago Bears and denies there was any fraud in his academic record, on Monday donated $250K to the school.
"I can assure everyone that there is no academic fraud as it relates to my college transcript," he said in an Aug. 18 statement. "I took every course with qualified members of the UNC faculty and I earned every grade whether it was good or bad. I was never given unapproved assistance or preferential treatment in terms of my academic career because I was a student-athlete."
Sosnik, a Duke University grad, was political director for President Clinton and chief of staff to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).
WRAL, a Raleigh TV and radio station, reported that Sosnik began PR consulting for the university earlier this month.
Chancellor Holden Thorp tapped former Gov. Jim Martin and a consulting firm to investigate academic fraud and athletic programs at UNC.
Nancy Davis is associate vice chancellor for university relations at UNC. Mike McFarland is director of communications.