PETITION FOR IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL OF ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SCOTT BARNES
To: The Board of Trustees, University President, and Athletic Oversight Committee of Oregon State University

Date: October 12, 2025

We, the undersigned students, alumni, boosters, and concerned stakeholders of Oregon State University, hereby petition for the immediate -termination of Athletic Director Scott Barnes.

This action is necessitated by a prolonged pattern of strategic failures, lack of adequate foresight, and an overall inability to secure the competitive and financial future of the Oregon State Athletic Department. Mr. Barnes has demonstrated a profound inability to lead the program as a whole, rendering him unfit to oversee the necessary rebuilding efforts.

ARTICLE I: STRATEGIC AND FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP FAILURES

Scott Barnes’s leadership failure is primarily evidenced by failures in strategic planning and oversight that have directly harmed the university's athletic standing:

-Failure in Conference Realignment Strategy & Revenue Loss: Mr. Barnes was reportedly "caught flat-footed" and failed to secure a stable and lucrative conference home for Oregon State during the collapse of the Pac-12. This failure directly resulted in the university projecting an estimated 44% decline in total athletic revenue for Fiscal Year 2025, representing an approximate annual gap of over $40 million that conference revenues alone cannot fill.

-Increased Debt and Financial Instability: Under Mr. Barnes’s tenure, the Athletic Department required the university to advance $31.8 million to sustain operations during and after the pandemic, with the expectation of repayment through "historic revenues." The current financial crisis, stemming from conference failure, makes repaying this institutional debt significantly harder.

-Lack of Program Oversight and Accountability: While the recent dismissal of head football coach Trent Bray addresses an immediate need (following an 0-7 start to the 2025 season), this action came only after prolonged, unacceptable underperformance. Mr. Barnes's delay in making critical staffing changes demonstrates an abdication of his fundamental responsibility to proactively monitor, evaluate, and hold coaching staff accountable for results and program standards.

-Erosion of Trust and Community Engagement: The sustained disappointment, coupled with the existential threats faced by the athletic department due to conference instability, has severely damaged the trust between the Athletic Department and the loyal fanbase, negatively impacting ticket sales, donations, and the overall morale of the university community.

ARTICLE II: MANDATE FOR DISMISSAL
We believe that the program cannot be fully stabilized or restored to competitive prominence unless leadership is replaced at the highest level. Retaining Scott Barnes to hire the next generation of coaches and navigate the ongoing conference crisis—a crisis his lack of foresight contributed to—is an unacceptable risk to the university’s reputation and financial health.

Therefore, we demand the immediate and simultaneous termination of Scott Barnes, Athletic Director.

We urge the Board of Trustees to recognize that true leadership means making difficult changes swiftly and decisively. The failure to address the core systemic failures in the Athletic Director’s office fundamentally betrays the long-term health and reputation of Oregon State University's athletic program.

CALL TO ACTION: SIGN YOUR SUPPORT
We invite all members of the Oregon State University community and general public who agree with the comprehensive change outlined above to sign this petition. Your signature represents a critical step in demanding accountability and securing the future of our athletic programs.

Signatures (To be collected and submitted):