WTF

It appears that Nero screwed this program in so many ways we may just be learning about all of them. Sad really.

Everyone's entitled to their defense, which may offer a different version in this case and any other, but 1) the situation beyond this could be worse than the bad things the world already knows. And 2) Don't know much about the EEOC, but this seems like they are laying out the results of the investigation that is severely damning to the athletic department at the time, according to the complaint.
    The EEOC states that the hiring was done without anyone else considered and the University flagged the deal and it was done anyway.
    This is just one reference: "After Athletics selected Aresco for the Special Assistant position, Defendant’s system flagged that Aresco’s salary was out of range, necessitating review by Kayer and the Compensation Department. Kayer and Compensation concluded that the Special Assistant salary was too high but approved it anyway because, as Kayer testified, paying Aresco $77,000/year for the Special Assistant job was what the Athletics Director wanted. EEOC SOF ¶¶ 148-167"
  The complaint also comments on the preferred hire's ability to do the work.
     Also, they tried to fire the woman who is pursuing the complaint, according to the EEOC, if I read  correctly. And in her case, the complaint says "Nero began to ask Williams to perform more menial tasks, including personal errands. EEOC SOF ¶¶ 224-229. For example, in August 2015, the same month Nero announced Aresco would move to Administration, Nero asked Williams to go to his home to wait for Comcast to hook up his cable. Nero later asked Williams to pick up his medication, pick up his tuxedo from the dry-cleaner, and get him coffee."
    The odd thing is the university threw $1.3 million at Nero rather than GW fighting it, despite all of the issues swirling around him. And after Lonergan getting around $3 million after he felt he was wrongly dismissed (and it is at least imaginable that he felt he had leverage).
    Yet, GW hasn't apparently moved to settle this for someone who was making (rightly or wrongly, as the complaint alleges) $40,000 a year. Why not settle with her?
     Probably the same reason, GW laid off janitors, etc. in the financial crunch.
   
          
       

Last edited by jf (2/02/2023 4:20 pm)

keithgreene wrote:

"go away quietly." Patrick Nero has not spoken publicly about his dismissal since day one that I am aware of.  I can't say the same for Mike Lonergan who received more than 2x the settlement Nero received.
Just saying.

Keith, anyone would be quiet too if they did the things Nero is alleged to have done ... just saying. Why should ML be quiet unless he is required to do so? Seems to me he is the aggrieved party here.

Long careers were lost over this time.
The EEOC complaint is giving us a decent glimpse inside the machination of the Athletic Dept. at the time.
The public veil of silence on this whole thing should be lifted and GW, under new leadership should come clean. Might be more shocking than already recounted.

When eventually a 30 for 30 comes out on this, God help us. Perhaps instead of changing the moniker now, they should wait until after the 30 for 30 when they will likely need to put the entire athletic department in witness protection.

Have either of them (Lonergan or Nero) been proven guilty or found innocent of what they were accused?  They both received "handsome" payouts which I am sure included "zip it, Skippy!" clauses to remain quiet. But did they? Don't hand me the "aggrieved" bullshit.  Fight it in the courts and/or in the court of public opinion and don't take a seven-figure settlement!

jf wrote:

..... and about how Mary Jo Warner, a respected name in the GW athletic community for decades, was said to be driven out, according to the complaint.

This definitely happened. Amongst other former administrators

signed,
used to be on the inside
 

Joel Joseph wrote:

Greene, we could use more "fans" who post here about our team in the middle of their season and not just when Nero is mentioned.

When we are back again, maybe I'll start contributing to the program again. My 1st contribution will be to sponsor locker stall, toilet stall or maybe a specialized e-game chair for the locker room! I got the idea from our very own Keith Greene YouTube videos soliciting donations. You are Hollywood ready my man!

I'm sure you're not referring to me in your first comment above - I post somewhat regularly and not just about the past, which in general bores me.  

Insofar as giving to the university and to the Buff & Blue Fund, I'm proud to do so.  You don't have to if you don't want to, but I do and I do.  So, drop the criticism if you would.

And let's agree to focus on 2023 and thereafter and let go what is the past.