Stony Brook Athletic Director Jim Fiore was relieved of his duties last Tuesday after the university bought out the remaining $800,000 on his contract, which was supposed to run through June 2016.

President Samuel L. Stanley announced that Senior Associate Athletic Director Donna Woodruff will serve as interim director in a two-sentence email to the campus community, and that is the most information Stony Brook has released.

“It is university policy not to comment on personnel matters,” Media Relations Officer Lauren Sheprow said in an email to The Statesman.

Fiore is widely credited for vast improvements to Stony Brook’s athletic program, leaving the university’s community and those familiar with its sports program questioning why he was let go. Though The Statesman does not report on hearsay, rumors have begun to circulate in the absence of an official explanation. We cannot imagine why the university would not detail the circumstances under which a popular administrator was fired.

Jim Fiore’s release is news beyond Stony Brook. As the university makes a name for itself on a national stage, Fiore’s firing puts the university’s reputation at stake. Our local newspapers are not the only ones asking questions.

Moreover, the fact that the university is losing approximately $800,000 would demand an explanation under any other circumstance. Many have also questioned the source of the money. The university is making a huge expenditure without being held accountable.

The Statesman is not the only news organization reporting on the situation and the truth is bound to emerge in the upcoming weeks. Though Stony Brook is within its rights to keep mum on the matter, its silence will cost the university much more than money.

Stony Brook owes an explanation to its students and fans. This is a matter of responsibility toward those who invest both money and trust into this university. The school is now at a level where a two-line email about a decorated administrator being bought out of his contract does not cut it.

The lack of answers has caused rampant speculation. At this point, the rumors are likely to be more detrimental to the school’s image than the truth. The public often interprets hidden information as guilt.

It is in the best interest of administration and athletics to directly address why Fiore was bought out. Stony Brook is only as strong as those who have faith in the administration, and this display of secrecy shows that there has been no change in the practices of the university. Instead, the administration needs to take the approach of being honest with the body of people who make this school what it is.

Sincerely-

The Editorial Board