I wanted to link this article from SI to hone the discussion down to what the NCAA should or should not be dealing with rather than whether or not they improperly handled the UNC case.
NCAA: North Carolina didn't violate academic fraud rules
Now, I don't necessarily agree with every assertion in this article, but I think it's inevitable that we discuss the purpose of the NCAA.
1. What is the NCAA supposed to do?
2. What authority should it have?
3. How deeply should it be involved in the workings of a member university?
I think these are all good questions, but the most important question at this point is this...is the NCAA obsolete?
All schools probably have "easy" classes in order to maintain eligibility for certain athletes. Some schools have probably committed academic fraud in order to get ahead. I doubt UNC is alone.
A very good point the above article raises is that this system is jacked up and that institutions dedicated to education should not be thought of primarily as athletic programs. So what is the solution? How can we get to a place where student athletes aren't just mercenaries?
And ultimately, what good is the NCAA if it has no authority to protect the academic integrity of its member institutions? Is not the point of the NCAA to ensure that athletics are a robust part of college life, but not the sole focus of these schools? That athletics are a means to an end rather than an end unto themselves? That the shared benefits of intercollegiate athletics empower schools rather than devalue their mission?