Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell doesn’t seem to know where his priorities are.

O’Dell, who’s made time to look for a new NIU men’s basketball coach, has overlooked the real reason an athletic department should exist—for the students. Students pay the bills, play the games and attend the events.

But he decided to ignore Mike Lipnisky, one of the best freshmen basketball players in the nation, who is trying to get a release from NIU to look at other colleges. O’Dell is just saying ‘no,’ stopping Lipnisky from looking at other schools to play ball.

Even though NIU would love to keep the First Team All Mid-Continent Newcomer, that does not give the athletic department a right to put a ball and chain on him. College athletics exist to help students, not to make them possessions.

O’Dell cannot be spending every minute of his time looking for a coach. If he is, then maybe some delegation is in order. A release should not be a terribly difficult thing to arrange.

The athletic department should show Lipnisky some respect for what he already has given to NIU. He has every right to determine his own bright future. O’Dell should gladly give him the release and get it out of the way.

It’s too bad Lipnisky doesn’t like NIU enough to stay, but it’s easy to see why.