A lawsuit filed by a group of women alleges that the University of Tennessee has violated Title IX regulations. And that it created a "hostile sexual environment" through a policy of indifference toward assaults by student-athletes.
According to WKRN-TV NASHVILLE, six unknown women have filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Tennessee claiming that it has created a student culture that enables sexual assault by athletes, especially football players. The lawsuit identified a plaintiff "Jane Doe" accuses five former athletes of sexual assault. These are former basketball player Yemi Makanjuola, former football players A.J. Johnson, Michael Williams and Riyahd Jones, and a current football player who was not identified.
The lawsuit said that the alleged assault happened after a football team party at Vol Hall in September 2014 where she was given drinks by former UT player Treyvon Paulk, who was still taking part in team events despite an allegation of battery by Paulk's girlfriend weeks before. It accuses that the university has an environment conducive for bad behavior and failing disciplinary system favoring the players, citing more than a dozen other incidents involving football players, which are previously unreported.
The federal suit filed on Tuesday in Nashville noted that Tennessee's policies made students more vulnerable to sexual assault. It had also "clearly unreasonable response" after incidents that caused the women making complaints of harassments.
ESPN even reported that there have been several sexual assault complaints made against Tennessee student-athletes over the last four years, including former football players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams. Both were charged with aggravated rape in February 2015 and have separate trial dates this summer.
The federal lawsuit was filed by David Randolph Smith, an attorney representing six unidentified women, against the University of Tennessee and the director of the office of student conduct and community standards. No individual identified as defendants in the complaint. The case stated that Tim Rogers, a former vice chancellor for student life, stepped down in 2013 "in protest over the violation of Title IX and the UT administration's and athletic department's deliberate indifference to the clear and present danger of sexual assaults by UT athletes."
Bill Ramsey, a lawyer defending the university claimed in a statement via ABC NEWS that the university "acted lawfully and in good faith" in the situations outlined in the complaint. Ramsey also added that the school "has devoted significant time and energy to provide a safe environment for our students, to educate and raise awareness about sexual assault and to encourage students to come forward and report sexual assault."
Meanwhile, Title IX, which has been mentioned in the lawsuit, is a federal statute that bans discrimination in the different schools that accept federal funding. The U.S. Department of Education constantly warns schools of their responsibilities to comply with the allegations of sexual assault, even if the criminal investigation has not yet concluded.
