Michael McAdoo was ruled permanently ineligible in 2010 for academic violations connected to a tutor providing improper assistance on a research paper for a class in the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies department.
Online court records say a lawsuit seeking class action status was filed this week in U.S. District Court in Charlotte.
McAdoo’s lawsuit says that he was guaranteed a good education while being recruited by football coaches, but was ultimately guided to consider three options, one of which was African-American Studies ― the curriculum that formed the basis for the long-running academic scandal.
“We’re not out to vilify UNC. We’re trying to restore the student-athlete principle that UNC’s really been for so long in the forefront of,” said Jeremi Duru, a Washington, D.C., attorney representing McAdoo who also teaches law at American University.
Rick White, UNC associate vice chancellor for communications and public affairs, said the school became aware of the lawsuit on Friday and will reserve comment until it has reviewed the claims.
McAdoo, who played football at UNC from 2008 through 2010, was ruled permanently ineligible in 2010 for academic violations connected to a tutor providing improper assistance on a research paper for a class in the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies department.
The lawsuit comes weeks after a report detailing the academic and athletic scandal at UNC revealed that more than 3,100 athletes and everyday students took no-show classes in the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies department for nearly two decades ending in 2011.
