McCasland smells cover up and rattles Wills and McCarver 

The question of whether President Wills was properly complying with a Governing Board directive to enforce certain Campus policies sparked a somewhat vitriolic response at the May meeting from Wills and Board member Pat McCarver.  McCasland expressed her concern saying that she had an obligation to look into possible criminal violations if they occurred on Campus. She also said that she was disappointed it “took her action to shed some light on what was going on.”  Wills insisted she had done all that was required regarding the incident and had imposed appropriate sanctions.

Among questions by McCasland was one involving the absence of police logs showing concerned parents had visited and alerted police to the possible drug use issue. Why, after there had been several visits to the police about the incident did their logs not show the contacts, McCasland asked. Wills responded that she should talk to the police.

Wills said that she didn’t appreciate McCasland’s handling of the matter and encouraged her to speak privately (secretly out of public view) to her in the future about such matters.  Wills also said that the College was imposing “all the different sanctions that will go into place” and improve procedures.  She did not elaborate. 

McCarver jumped to Wills aid during the discussion saying that McCasland was unprofessional by continuing to pursue the matter publicly during the Board meeting. She also urged McCasland to meet with Wills privately (secretly out of public view).

The six minute back-and-forth during the May Board meeting is captured on the video below.

Claims drug usage and other issues related to the student; also claims President Wills snubbed her son on graduation stage

Heather Tippett, the mother of a Yavapai Community College athlete who was graduating, charged that the College recruited a player via a scholarship who became involved in drug usage and other issues.  She alleged that the recruit should never have been allowed to join the student athletes at the College. 

She also alleged that President Penelope Wills ignored her son during graduation ceremonies implying that he was being publicly humiliated  by the president because of his alleged whistle-blowing.  The mother asked that the Board “take a look at”  the Prescott graduation ceremony on video to verify her claim.  

The video of the Prescott graduation ceremony can be found at https://www.yc.edu/ (Last visited Sunday, May 26, 2018). Please click here.

The mother’s allegations about drug usage and the President’s behavior, which she made to the Governing Board at the May meeting, follows in full.

Names of staff involved not released

Yavapai Community College is planning some kind of personnel action against at least two members of the College associated with the vaping/alleged drug incident involving College athletes, sources close to the College have indicated.  The names of the staff and the nature of the personnel action the College will take has not been made public.

The personnel action arises out of allegations of drug use and a video tape showing two athletes smoking in the “bull pen” area of the baseball field.

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Players were described as “vaping,” which is generally associated with electronic cigarettes

A videotape of two Yavapai Community College baseball players smoking in the “bullpen area” of the ball field did not support an allegation that they were vaping marijuana, according to sources close to Yavapai College.  Although the full facts have not been disclosed by the College surrounding this incident, “vaping” of any kind is not allowed on Campus.

Vaping is generally defined as “to inhale vapor through the mouth from a battery-operated electronic device (such as an electronic cigarette) that heats up and vaporizes a liquid or solid.”  For example, “This electronic cigarette … contains a small reservoir of liquid nicotine solution that is vaporized to form an aerosol mist. The user `vapes’, or puffs on the vapor, to get a hit of the addictive nicotine  —John Tierney.”

It is not clear what kind of device the players were using, if any, when they were photographed vaping. One possibility is that a Vape Pen was being used.  We can at this point only speculate. Vape Pens are associated with electronic cigarettes and also marijuana, according to Rolling Stone Magazine, “Are Weed Vape Pens Safe?  https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/are-weed-vape-pens-safe-w507084. These pens are used because the smoking is “elegant, discreet and nearly odorless.”  Note again, however, that the College apparently found no marijuana associated with the smoking incident and the Blog is unclear on exactly how the smoking was being accomplished.

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Athletic department and campus police administer drug tests as part of investigation; Campus policy says athletes should be immediately suspended if drug test failed; who, if anyone has been suspended is unknown

The Blog has learned that as part of an investigation into alleged drug use among  Yavapai Community College athletes, the Campus police and the athletic department had some players take drug tests.  The Blog has been reliably informed that some of those students tested positive for drugs.  The test results appear to violate Athletic Department Drug Policy 4.2.  According to Community College policy, “athletes who violate this policy will be subject to immediate suspension from all participation in team sports, as well as other discipline.” As a result of the investigation, the Community College has apparently taken some action.  However, the Blog is unaware of any athletes being suspended so far. The College remains mum on the issue.

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College has conducted or is conducting some kind of investigation into possible drug use by athletes

President Penelope Wills assured the Governing Board Thursday that her decision to retire had nothing to do with a drug use investigation at Yavapai Community College.  It has become clear that the College has conducted and may be continuing to conduct an investigation into posssible drug use among some athletes.  The nature and extent of the investigation has not been revealed.

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