University Of Minnesota President Refuses To Bow To Boycotting Football Players
Last edited Sat Dec 17, 2016, 09:29 AM - Edit history (3)
Source: Huff Post
12/16/2016 10:33 pm ET
The University of Minnesota president and athletic director on Friday refused to yield to protesting football players, who walked out of practice and threatened to boycott their upcoming bowl game over the suspensions of 10 teammates involved in a campus sexual assault investigation.
Minnesota President Eric W. Kaler and Athletic Director Mark Coyle told players in statements Friday evening their duty to uphold the schools values and protect students was more important than an end-of-season bowl game.
"One of my jobs as President is to put our institutional values at the forefront of all we do and ensure our actions are aligned with those values, Kaler said. This principle is far more important than any football game and the University community as a whole, and it is more important than any single athletic team."
The statement was a response to football team members appearance outside Minnesota athletic facilities Thursday night to pledge that they would not participate in football activities until the suspensions of 10 teammates were reversed. The boycott could include the teams scheduled appearance in the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl in San Diego. The boycott will remain in effect until due process is followed and the suspensions for all 10 players involved are lifted, Drew Wolitarsky, a senior wide receiver, said as he stood with the entire team.
The Minnesota athletic department suspended the 10 Gopher players Tuesday, amid a school-led investigation into a woman students claim she was sexually assaulted by several men in September, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The universitys office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action had recommended expulsion for several players and suspensions for others.
The players encounter with the woman occurred after the teams season opener on Sept. 2. She said numerous players sexually assaulted her at an off-campus apartment, according to police reports. The players maintained the sexual encounter was consensual. Four players were initially suspended for violation of team rules. They were reinstated after local prosecutors declined to press charges. Restraining orders that kept five of the players from participating in a Minnesota home game were lifted after the players and the woman reached a settlement. The school, after its own, separate investigation, imposed the indefinite suspensions.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/university-of-minnesota-football-boycott_us_58549d6ce4b039044708fee7
comment:
Evidently, there was what appears to be a gang rape of a woman and suspension of those involved. Now the victim says it was forced and the team members say it was "consensual".. The university stands with the victim. This one is very ugly. Evidently, the last sentence says everything..,The school, after its own, separate investigation, imposed the indefinite suspensions.
Consequently, the school rules in this case, are more important than the so called "settlement." I suspect this kind of activity is illegal at the University of Miinnesota. We will see how this plays out. The football players think they are right, but the University of Minnesota says it's campus rules ...rule..
Some history here as additional info. In the 1920s the University of Chicago had an outstanding football team, but it seems that this activity became more important than anything else. Eventually in the 1930s, the University administration cancelled the football program that involved major competition with other universities. The university withdrew from the conference it was in and that was that. Also, the University of Chicago was/is a private institution. University of Minnesota is a public one, and this is 85 years later.....Here is a short history of that action by the University of Chicago....................This story below is from Wikipedia.........................................It is about "Chicago Maroon Football" as it was known in the 20s and 30s...
:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Maroons_football
The Chicago Maroons football represents the University of Chicago in college football. The Maroons play in NCAA Division III as an independent team. From 1892 to 1939, the Maroons were a major college football power. The University of Chicago was a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and the Maroons were coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg, one of the game's pioneers, for 41 seasons. In 1935, halfback Jay Berwanger became the first recipient of the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, later known as the Heisman Trophy. Nonetheless, in the late 1930s, university president Robert Maynard Hutchins decided that big-time college football and the university's commitment to academics was not a good fit.[2] The University of Chicago abolished its football program in 1939 and withdrew from the Big Ten in 1946. Football returned to the University of Chicago in 1963 in the form of a club team, which was upgraded to varsity status in 1969. The Maroons began competing in Division III in 1973.
There was a video of the alleged rape that showed she was a willing participant. After the police viewed the video they declined to pursue it any further. When you read the report from the university it states they were unable to obtain the video from the police.
spedtr90
(719 posts)...by at least 12 men. That's the total of the 3 videos police have.
https://thinkprogress.org/minnesota-football-players-boycott-bowl-game-to-protest-suspensions-for-alleged-gang-rape-79d973e9f09d#.rrkdu7bqu
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Neither the police report nor the university report make such a claim.
spedtr90
(719 posts)See link in my comment.
But in a court hearing, she said that she panicked once she was in Djams room. I felt scared, trapped, isolated with someone I felt had power over me, she said.
She says she was in the room for an hour and a half, and testified that at least a dozen men lined up to take turns assaulting her.
I was removing myself from my mind and my body to help myself from the pain and experience going on, she testified. I was shoving people off of me... They kept ignoring my pleas for help. Anything I said they laughed. They tried to cheer people on.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)But I believe there were five individuals charged with sexual assault according to the police report. The university report found four students in violation of sexual assault policies. Of course that does not mean that many more did not sexually assault her and managed to avoid being charged or interviewed.
In any case, the police report and university report are disturbing to say the least.
Brigadier Pudding
(6 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)and prosecution.
The response was a Complaint Denial letter.
In terms of the university report, four were found in violation of school sexually assault policies.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)What exactly is on the video of and how does that match what she said? And were trusting the video of a person she said perpetrated a crime? Luther said. (The alleged victim) said she felt unsafe, which might not be obvious (on a video). One thing we know about this kind of gender violence is that the victim will go along with something they dont feel comfortable with because they dont feel like they can say no. So what would that look like on a video? Its so much more complicated than what a video can capture most of the time.
RedWedge
(618 posts)Or do you think consent can't be withdrawn at any time?
Iggo
(47,581 posts)Skittles
(153,254 posts)jack69
(163 posts)Under no circumstances is that acceptable, none. Even if the victim agrees, it was under duress always. Even if trump says it is OK.
Response to deist99 (Reply #1)
Ken Burch This message was self-deleted by its author.
certainot
(9,090 posts)'principles' is confusing
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)We need more of this. And above all from our public institutions.
Go, UMN!
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)the university has extended scholarships.
Dustlawyer
(10,499 posts)of schools that put their athletes ahead of sexual assault.
7962
(11,841 posts)This type behavior would likely violate those rules.
The bowl should find another school to replace them. Tough shit, UM
ETA: I would also suggest that the University claw back some of the scholarship money from these players involved, as well as those refusing to play.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)I think UM and the Big 10 are going to be on the hook for more than just the $2M payment for participation in the bowl game.
I am totally on board with the suspension. It will probably lead to expulsion for some once the actions are completed. UM does not have to reach a legal threshold of guilt for sexual assault to mete out punishment. At a minimum she indicated that she did not want to be be videotaped on the videotape so you do not have her consent for that. An underaged recruit participated in the drinking and the sex - again this reflects poorly on the program and could be a cause for suspension as well.
Especially since the report is out there depicting findings from even the own testimony of the players (irrespective of the woman's testimony), I think the remaining players are going to make a hasty retreat from their boycott stance. The situation will be resolved today. I don't think the players want to be associated with condoning this behavior. The coach backing the boycotting players is finished as far as I am concerned. His statement was stupid.
This should be contrasted with Yale which I think acted improperly in expelling its basketball player weeks before his graduation. I think they would have been perfectly within their rights to suspend him and prevent him from participating in the NCAA tournament. He posed no additional threat to the woman even if what she said was true. He should have been allowed to finish his degree.
zippythepinhead
(374 posts)lock em up!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Still want to lock them up?
zippythepinhead
(374 posts)There was a cover up like in a lot of rape victims. "Blame the rape victim"
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)Scholarships and loans notwithstanding.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)Latest tweets seem to indicate a settlement in the works. I wonder what concessions the administration will make? This could be precedent setting and not in a positive way. 9 a.m. press conference has been called.
https://twitter.com/JoeCStrib?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The irony is that if the players had just gone along with the suspension it probably would have been far better for their reputation. Anyone reading the report is going to be horrified even if you accept that it was "consensual".
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)exboyfil
(17,865 posts)Every player apparently went along with the boycott. The starting QB was the spokesman for the group. At best they may make a statement that they did not have all the facts at the time and trusted the word of their teammates. That will be their out.
If they hold on with the boycott, then I suspect a lot of scholarships are going to get pulled.
Worst case is if they rescind some or all of the suspensions. That would be horrible for the academic institution and truly indicate the lunatics are running the asylum. I still think the Missouri cave was the wrong decision irrespective of what you think of the president.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)One has to wonder how many similar things go on regularly on college campuses without being reported.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)but should any behavior short of physical damage between consenting adults be forbidden or at least shunned? Alcohol obviously adds an additional complexity to this situation. This case seems clear to me given the additional details and the fact that it is a suspension and not an expulsion. Consent at least for some of the participants was implied through the video - probably enough to avoid prosecution for all, but even then I don't know. I know when I was an 18 year old guy I would avoid situations like this at all costs and try to stop it if I could. As a 53 year old father of two daughters, the situation horrifies me, and I am glad my oldest is done with school and married, and my youngest is living at home while attending college. My youngest is looking at joining the Air Force after her BSN is done, so I will still be worried about her. Neither have ever drank to my knowledge.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Using terms like "hoes" and other similarly degrading descriptions of sex acts along with the impulse to record such behavior and pass along such videos to their friends. Very disturbing.
It is also distressing that a young woman would take 4-5 shots of 100 proof vodka before going to a party.
jack69
(163 posts)They are always coerced in some form. Anyone who stands up for them should be let go also, make room for scholarships for more responsible athletes.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)I wonder what sort of secret deal was hatched.
RedWedge
(618 posts)exboyfil
(17,865 posts)could probably have done better if their teammates had kept their mouths shut. Many of them probably could have transferred without completing the discipline process or even got back to playing next year for UM. I doubt if any of that is going to happen now. Now the whole world knows what UM football thinks is normal behavior. The signs being held up at the game are going to be interesting as well.
I have read about half the report, sofar it is just they said she said. No real evidence. Three things jumped out at me from what I read so far.
First, she stated that one of the suspects penetrated her forcefully and roughly, on top of all the other men she had sex with that night. Yet the hospital rape examination did not show any damage to her vagina. Which leads me to believe she was a willing participant.
Second, a few of the suspects had the alleged victim add them as followers on Instagram or used her phone to add themselves as followers. If these players had thought they were committing rape I find it highly unlikely they would have done this.
Third, after the incident she texted one of her friends and said she just had sex with a bunch of black guys. The report doesn't make it clear but I would infer from this she is white. So it makes me wonder if there is not some racism in this. i.e. She did willingly engage in a gang bang with a bunch of black guys but afterwards regretted it because of how other people would view her.
However, the college has a policy that only requires a preponderance of evidence and requires affirmative consent continuously during any sexual activity. So this seems to be a case where there is not enough evidence to support a criminal prosecution but is enough to support suspending these players.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Seriously?
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-players-u-leaders-working-toward-ending-boycott-of-football/407201426/
sarisataka
(18,857 posts)coming up later today.
The rumor mill is that the players remain suspended for the time being. Their punishments, ranging from probation to expulsion, will not become final until after a "fair hearing with diverse panel".
jalan48
(13,905 posts)The players are at Minnesota ostensibly to get an education. The reality is that they are there to entertain the citizens of Minnesota. Rah! Rah!-that's my team. What would we think if a group of science majors decided to have a little gang bang fun? Does anyone think their threats of leaving the science department would be taken seriously?
turbinetree
(24,737 posts)The Minnesota Gophers Football :
"One of my jobs as President is to put our institutional values at the forefront of all we do and ensure our actions are aligned with those values, Kaler said. This principle is far more important than any football game and the University community as a whole, and it is more important than any single athletic team."
http://gopherfootball.tripod.com/
I look at this issue, since I grew up in the state, is how the public institutions have been corrupted by money, let's say from CBS (3 billion in television rights, or whatever it is) etc......this exposure gets families to look at the college and send there young adults, because after all it's about the NAME, when you are flashed on the screen during a pro game with the college or university, and that message is that I came from that program, so if I can make it here you can also
The student(s) is then treated like they are a star to produce a product for that revenue stream, some where they forget what is right and what is wrong, what the word yes means and what the word no means. Whenever someone says no, it means no at any given time.
I believe that college should continue the suspension in fact if need be forfeit the bowl game, this issue is more important than having one's name stamped or engraved on some award, we are all taught what the words yes and no mean, or what's right or wrong.
Maybe its time for the "football players to grow up, because apparently at the time of the act, they had not grown-up.
Because they also don't know the difference between was is an "ACT", or was it done by "DESIGN", and as soon as they figure out what this means they then can look at themselves in the mirror
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)a tradition of killing a black man on the field by targeting him because he dared to take the field with white players.
http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2014/11/25/7275681/jack-trice-iowa-state-football-profile
Maybe a bit harsh.
turbinetree
(24,737 posts)azureblue
(2,155 posts)The woman was too drunk to make rational decisions. if the team members had any respect for the woman and for the reputation of the school and the team, they would have left her alone, or, even better, protected her. But no. Drunk or not, they saw an easy lay and went for it.
What the boycott proves is the rest of the team stands behind the low lifes on the team. For that, I agree with the University. Suspend them all.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)Eom
Ptah
(33,048 posts)Minnesota's football team has ended its boycott and will resume preparations to play in the National Funding Holiday Bowl.
The Gophers had been protesting the suspension of 10 players connected to a sexual assault allegation, demanding that the players be reinstated immediately.
The team released a statement, which was read Saturday morning by wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky.
"As a team, we understand that what has occurred these past few days, and playing football for the University of Minnesota, is larger than just us," the team said in its statement. "So many before us have given so much to this University and this football team ... we will not ... and we recognize that we must not, let these people down.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18297065/minnesota-golden-gophers-football-team-ends-boycott-prepare-holiday-bowl
jmowreader
(50,571 posts)This team is scheduled to play the Washington State University Cougars at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego in the Holiday Bowl on December 27. The Cougars are a pretty good team this year, and the Cleveland Browns are unbelievably bad. A Cougars-Browns matchup would be a good game.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,858 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)I think I should recognize him.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,858 posts)... he hosted SNL.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)How did he do? I haven't seen SNL in a long time, but I remember some people are surprisingly good hosts.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,858 posts)I could imagine him making a transition into acting someday. Beyond the "acting" that's involved in professional wrestling, I mean.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)and there is no doubting the athleticism of those guys.
On edit: I liked Peyton Manning on SNL. I thought he'd be stiff as a board, but he was pretty good.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,858 posts)I'm not sure if he'd make a good dramatic actor, but he seems pretty bright and might do well in light comedic roles... like he's already done in TV commercials.
briv1016
(1,570 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,319 posts)Consensual doesn't begin to explain their horrible choices!
Horrible!
I was a guy in college once too!
NEVER WOULD HAVE I PARTICIPATED IN SUCH A THING!