APPEAL: Former UMINN Football Players Appeal Discrimination Lawsuit Dismissal
Nine University of Minnesota football players involved in an investigation into sexual assault allegations in 2016 have appealed after their federal lawsuit was dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge last month. The former players, all of whom are black, (accuser is white) claimed in the lawsuit that they faced race and gender discrimination by the University during a 2016 sexual assault investigation. The University filed to dismiss the suit in November last year and U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank dismissed the suit in June. According to the dismissal, University officials acted appropriately in disciplining the players.
The players alleged “racial and gender discrimination; intentional, willful, and malicious misconduct; and deliberate indifference” on the part of the school, now former University President Eric Kaler, and Tina Marisam, the director of the university’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action… A female student accused several Gopher football players of sexual assault in September 2016. After a police investigation, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office declined to press criminal charges. However, 10 players were initially suspended, leading to a highly-publicized bowl game boycott and eventually a coaching change. In the end, four players were expelled, one had his expulsion reduced to a one-year suspension and the rest were cleared of wrongdoing.
mndaily-Imani Cruzen kstp.com/sports
