Baylor University’s report on the wrongdoings committed surrounding its football program is full of disturbing details, but one detail in particular stands out.
In addition to finding that people associated with the football program chose not to report allegations of sexual assault made against players and attempted to disrupt disciplinary proceedings, a particularly disturbing passage states that school administrators retaliated against an individual who reported sexual assault.
“Pepper also found examples of actions by University administrators that directly discouraged complainants from reporting or participating in student conduct processes, or that contributed to or accommodated a hostile environment,” the report reads. “In one instance, those actions constituted retaliation against a complainant for reporting sexual assault.”
There are no further details as to what the retaliation constituted. The report can be read in full here.
Ignoring and covering up sexual abuse allegations to protect the football program is awful enough. Actively retaliating against those who made the complaints is truly disgusting.
The findings cost coach Art Briles his job, and perhaps his coaching career. At least one Baylor player has tried to defend Briles’s conduct, but it’s indefensible, and he got what was coming to him. More fallout is sure to follow as well.
