Ohio State University needs to quickly and thoroughly investigate the serious allegations of academic preferential treatment against superstar running back Maurice Clarett.

If the school is to improve its abysmal performance when it comes to graduating student-athletes, here's a great place to start. Ohio State only graduates six out of 10 athletes, according to the NCAA, based on the class that started in the 1995-1996 school year. The school's athlete graduation rate ranks next to last in the Big Ten, trailed only by Minnesota.

As a freshman last year, Clarett was a Heisman trophy contender. The New York Times Sunday reported that Clarett received preferential academic treatment, based on information gathered from an unidentified graduate assistant. Clarett walked out of mid-term examination in an African-American studies class last fall because he was unfamiliar with the material on the test. He did not take the midterm exam, nor did he take a final exam, but he passed the course after taking oral exams administered by associate professor Paulette Pierce. The graduate assistant said Clarett should have failed the class.

Ohio State officialsdenied that Clarett was given special treatment, but acknowledge that he was given an oral exam by Pierce. The university needs to clarify what is special treatment and what it not.

The story reported that Clarett said he had a learning disability, which might have made it OK for him to take an oral exam. But the disability does not seem have been documented as required by the school's policy.

Ohio State President Karen Holbrook promises the school will investigate the academic performances of student-athletes and their relationships with tutors. Good. Just as she cracked down on student rioting last year, she can set the tone for greater accountability when it comes to the classroom performance of student-athletes.

There are monetary and public relations advantages to having successful sports programs. But the schools must play by the rules as they help student-athletes make the grade.