Business Ethical Dilemma In Firing of Chris Beard Discussion – Question Description
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On December 12, 2022, the University of Texas’ men’s basketball coach, Chris Beard, was arrested on a family violence (i.e., felony) charge. On the same day, Coach Beard was suspended without pay by the University of Texas’ executive administrators. In a released statement, the University of Texas’ officials indicated “The university takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously.”
On December 23, 2022, Beard’s fiancée and alleged victim, Randi Trew, disputed the December 12th incident. “Chris did not strangle me, and I told that to law enforcement that evening. Chris has stated that he was acting in self-defense, and I do not refute that. I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way.”
While an on-going investigation into this incident was being conducted by the Travis County (Texas) District Attorney’s office, on January 5, 2023, the University of Texas’ executive administrators fired Chris Beard and relieved him of the men’s basketball coaching responsibilities. Beard’s seven-year guaranteed contract with the University of Texas had five years remaining. Interestingly, Beard’s contract included a clause where he could be terminated for cause if he was charged with a felony. The University of Texas’ vice president of legal affairs, Jim Davis, informed Beard’s attorney, Perry Minton, that Beard demonstrated “unacceptable behavior that makes him unfit to serve as head coach at our university.”
On February 15, 2023, Chris Beard’s felony domestic violence case was dismissed, in part because of the alleged victim’s wishes not to prosecute. The Travis County (Texas) District Attorney’s “office determined the charges could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”
On March 13, 2023, the University of Mississippi hired Chris Beard as their men’s head basketball coach.
Questions to be answered for Discussion:
Please share your thoughts on the University of Texas’ firing of Chris Beard.
Was terminating Chris Beard an ethically sound decision for the University of Texas?
Also, please share your thoughts on the University of Mississippi’s hiring Chris Beard as their men’s basketball coach.
Was hiring Chris Beard an ethically sound decision for the University of Mississippi?
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