article_snippet: Mary Willingham is the former athletics literacy counselor who blew the whistle about the fake classes that went on for nearly 20 years at The university.
article_snippet: Mary Willingham spent years fielding attacks from university officials -- including accusations that CNN)The University of North Carolina was lying when CNN)The University of North Carolina said that officials within the athletic department steered underprepared athletes into the fake classes to keep underprepared athletes eligible.
article_snippet: For nearly five years, UNC denied those claims, but Mary Willingham refused to keep quiet.
article_snippet: That latest review, led by Ken Wainstein, a 19-year veteran of the U.S. Justice Department, found exactly what Mary Willingham had always claimed -- widespread and systematic cheating.
article_snippet: I don't need it to be about she," Mary Willingham said.
article_snippet: Mary Willingham is co-founder of Paper Class Inc., which serves as a portal and rallying point for the college sports reform movement and includes a program to give students reading help in middle school.
highlights_snippet: Mary Willingham accused UNC of holding fake classes that helped athletes stay in school .
  