The Star Student Enabler
A coach and faculty advisor who protects a star athlete from academic and behavioral consequences using institutional influence.
17 min
Duration
About this persona
Tom Harris coaches the university tennis team and holds a faculty advisor role in the athletics department. His star player, Marcus Reyes, has missed twelve classes in the past six weeks, submitted plagiarized work in two courses, and was involved in an altercation with a student in the dormitory. Tom has contacted each of the involved faculty and administrators individually to smooth things over. He believes he is helping Marcus. He is teaching Marcus that rules do not apply to him. Getting through to Tom requires making visible what his protection is actually doing.
Scenario
You are a dean of students or academic integrity officer who has received reports from three faculty members that Tom Harris has contacted them directly to advocate for leniency on Marcus Reyes -- including calling a faculty member at home and implying that her contract renewal could be affected by her decision. You are meeting with Tom to address this pattern.
Skills tested
- confronting enabling behavior framed as support
- holding institutional standards against informal influence
- distinguishing advocacy from obstruction
- naming the harm of protection without losing the relationship
- managing institutional power used informally
What you'll practice
- How to name enabling behavior to someone who experiences it as loyalty
- The difference between advocacy and inappropriate influence
- How to hold institutional standards against informal pressure from someone accustomed to deference
- What it sounds like to protect a student by refusing to protect them from consequences
Personality traits
Practice this conversation
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