LAWSUIT: Blacks Sue Uof Minnesota. White Female Believed over 10 Black Athlete’s Truth who Police Cleared.
Ten black football players were punished in 2016 so that University of Minnesota administrators would look like “heroes of the fight against sexual violence,” their lawyer said in court. The alleged gang rape of a white female student in September 2016 did not result in criminal charges. But it played a role in head coach Tracy Claeys’ dismissal and sparked a short-lived team boycott of the Holiday Bowl when all 10 accused players were forced to sit out.
U denied them due process and discriminated against them on the basis of race and sex. The plaintiffs attorney David Madgett said that Title IX Coordinator Tina Marisam accepted the white woman’s version of events, while “the stories of 10 African-American males are universally discredited.” Three months after the female student’s report, Marisam concluded her investigation and 10 players were suspended for sexual assault or sexual harassment. Their teammates then announced they would boycott the bowl game but changed their minds after Marisam’s report was leaked to the media.
U-Minnesota: NO Arrest, NO Charge UM Suspends 10 Black Athletes-One False Accusation
Ultimately, five players were cleared of wrongdoing after contested student conduct hearings, and a sixth had his suspension reversed on appeal to the provost. The other four were expelled…U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank heard oral arguments recently on the U’s motion to dismiss the players’ case. He gave no indication how or when he might rule.
duluthnewstribune.com-Josh Verges
