April 16, 2019

M. David Rudd, President,

The University of Memphis
President's Office
The University of Memphis
341 Administration Building
Memphis, TN 38152

Via E-mail and U.S. Mail

Dear President Rudd,

After much thought and deliberation, I am writing to you to share my observations over what
occurred during a recent trip with the Women's Basketball team to the AAC Tournament.
Standing alone they seem innocuous, perhaps even petty, and may amount to nothing more
than unprofessional, lazy or odd behavior---! will leave it to you to reach your own conclusions.
But as a former employment lawyer and HR professional, I was somewhat taken aback by the
decorum and behavior of members of the Athletic Department Administration and thought you
should know.

This trip was included as an auction item at a fundraising event for the Women's Basketball
program. The package included travelling on the team plane, hotel accommodations and tickets
to the tournament. We left on the Thursday before the tournament weekend and after
boarding the plane, were seated directly across from, who I learned were two members of the
athletic department. I learned this because, after sitting there for 20 minutes or so, we finally
introduced ourselves and learned that they were Assoc. Athletic Directors Marlon Dechausay
and . They never spoke to us again on the flight. In comparison, the players and
cheerleaders who boarded after we did all spoke to us as they boarded---every single one of
them. I realize that this incident, while unprofessional, is also trivial. And, I am certainly not a
huge donor who warrants any extra attention-but I do think that everyone deserves a little
professionalism and common courtesy. However, as the weekend progressed, this was simply
the first in a series of things which left me with a very grim view of the Athletic Department
Administration.

After arriving at the hotel, several of us, including Mr. Dechausay and , proceeded to
the check-in desk. There was as special section for those attending the tournament and a hotel
employee brought packets and room keys around to the group. As the employee was handing

Ruddltr