ESU activity group did rely on vetting of coach

I would like to address misinformation that was presented in the Pocono Record editorial on Feb. 19 regarding East Stroudsburg University's (ESU) Ice Hockey Club. It is insulting that anyone might believe that ESU or its affiliate, Student Activity Association Inc. (SAA) would proceed to hire coaches for any of the university’s club sports without a vetting process.

The public should know that through Dec. 31, 2014, SAA, on behalf of the Ice Hockey Club, paid annual membership fees to the American Collegiate Hockey Association and has deferred coaching background checks to the ACHA because of its detailed background check policy. Coaches in the ACHA's Delaware Valley Collegiate Ice Hockey League are required to be registered members of ACHA. ACHA did not notify ESU or SAA regarding any anomalies or sanctions that breached their policy relative to our Ice Hockey Club coaches nor were any memberships revoked or suspended from coaching in league games. 

Further, once SAA and ESU discovered there were concerns about the coaching of ESU's Ice Hockey Club, we immediately took appropriate actions. As of Jan. 1, in compliance with the recently enacted Pennsylvania Protection of Minors law, SAA has instituted required fingerprinting and background checks for all club sport coaches (volunteer and paid) and any new SAA hires (following regulations established by the State System of Higher Education). Moving forward, in addition to detailed background checks from our collegiate leagues and associations, SAA will conduct its own, separate vetting process for any of our potential coaches of club sports. 

Lastly, I would like the public to know that SAA, and ESU, remain committed to protecting students and providing them with opportunities to learn, develop and participate in a safe environment.

JOSEPH A. AKOB

Executive Director,

Student Activity Association Inc.

Saylorsburg