Following Sunday’s announcement that Syracuse University officials fired men’s basketball associate head coach Bernie Fine, students’ opinions are mixed.

Though many still want more information to be released, the news of Fine’s firing has altered SU students’ viewpoints. Head men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim’s earlier statement dismissing the accusations against Fine conflicted with later reports when a third person accused Fine of sexual molestation. This prevented some students from forming a strong opinion on the investigation.

This was the case for Paul Bennett, a freshman political science major.

‘I didn’t believe it because Jim Boeheim said that there was nothing going on,’ he said.

Bennett said he first learned about the news about the investigation in a text message from his roommate. Initially, he did not believe the case was valid, especially because a previous investigation turned up nothing, he said. Still, he hopes it does not escalate into what occurred at Pennsylvania State University.

The situation has seen a number of developments since Nov. 17. District Attorney William Fitzpatrick expressed outrage with Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler and Deputy Chief Shawn Broton regarding the leaking of a witness affidavit, according to an article published by The Post-Standard on Nov. 23.

On Friday, Fine’s DeWitt home was searched by a team of U.S. Secret Service members, Syracuse police and New York state police officers, The Post-Standard reported on Nov. 25.

Following reports that a third person accusing Fine of sexual molestation stepped forward, the university terminated Fine from his position as associate head coach Sunday night.

Jonathan Grimes, a junior biology major, said he felt SU took the appropriate steps in releasing Fine. But he was not in the opinion that Boeheim should be fired, too.

‘Everything happened off campus, according to what I’ve heard. It’s a personal thing,’ Grimes said. ‘I think it shouldn’t get to (Boeheim).’

Shirley Daniels, a sophomore communication and rhetorical studies major and member of the SU softball team, held a similar opinion. She believes the case came to light because of the recent developments at Penn State.

‘If he’s lying, he’s going to be in trouble, too. You don’t want Boeheim to be in trouble. It’s Boeheim,’ she said.

For Graham Heberlig, a junior chemistry major, additional allegations against figures at other collegiate sports programs were inevitable.

‘The whole thing with (Jerry) Sandusky opened up a can of worms,’ he said. ‘I think we’re going to see a whole lot more of this in the coming months.’

Joseph Iluore, a senior biology major on the pre-med track, gave Fine the benefit of the doubt when the story first broke, dismissing the accuser’s actions as a grab for attention. But now, he said he’s not so sure.

The university needed to release Fine, even if he is found innocent, because of his association with SU and the university’s overall image, he said.

‘We all need time to recover from this,’ he said. ‘And this is the best way, I feel, moving forward.’

dmsegelb@syr.edu

Published on November 27, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dylan: dmsegelb@syr.edu | @dylan_segelbaum