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"In 2012-2013, there were 347 Division I programs in basketball. FIU ranked 317 in attendance, which was last in the Sun Belt Conference. In 2013-2014, four programs were added to Division 1. Yet, FIU ranked 265th with an average attendance of 1,474. In comparison to other Conference USA programs, after joining the conference, FIU was number 10 of 12 programs in terms of attendance. All of this is an embarrassment for our beloved university. As members of the Board of Directors for the FIU Alumni Association, we all know the great things FIU does every day for our community. We truly are Worlds Ahead in many areas, but the Athletic Department under the leadership of the current Athletic Director is a big blemish on our record. University leadership has set the precedent for generations to come on how to truly be Worlds Ahead. Earlier I spoke of the wonderful work Dr. Pehlman is doing and how the College of Law is leading the state in important barometers. We all know the eye-opening accomplishments of our College of Hospitality Management, the College of Business and the College of Medicine. Our fellow alumni are an integral part of the South Florida community and the students we are educating, many of which are or will be our children, will be starting business, being elected to public office, or even leading our future academic institutions of higher learning. As President Rosenberg says at each commencement ceremony, we need to encourage all of them to be proud of their institution, to tell their FIU story and to give back to our university. However, it becomes extremely difficult when the most public and visible department has been a failure. I, Frank Pena, strongly recommend that a major change happens in the leadership of our Department of Athletics. The sooner these changes would happen, the better. Thank you for listening patiently. I will now open the floor for comments or questions." Read more: http://collegead.org/case-terminate-fiu-athletic-director-pete-garcia/