Feds are investigating Mich's response to Gibbons incident
Just keeps getting better, doesn't it?
The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is investigating whether the University of Michigan failed to promptly respond to an alleged 2009 rape of a student involving a football player, The Detroit News has learned.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140225/SCHOOLS/302250059#ixzz2uLykpNv4
February 25th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
I don't think this is what Hoke meant when he told Gibbons to think about brunettes
February 25th, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^
Basically we want to hope that Bacon's interpretation that they handled things properly and then fucked up the easy part (the PR) is right. If that's not the case, then we should get hammered.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
Well, since State's feeling the heat too and the two at the center of that investigation are still on the team, this is not true.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:54 PM ^
"Fat Boy and Pizza Boy are about to get the hammer." - RCMB.
Interesting, since neither of them had anything to do with something that happened in 2009.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^
And who else better to "report" first hand on Twitter than Chantel Jennings. She is dying to make a name for herself based off this story. I am very happy that she is going to Beaverton to cover the Pac 12.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
Following her too. I hate that I find myself feeling compelled to defend the University in this situation, when I (along with everyone else) do not have all of the facts.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
Students are now protesting all across campus. This is going to get national attention very quickly and could very well bring down the football program as we know it. We thought stretch-gate was bad? Wait until reporters get to continue on this story.
The sad thing is, we may deserve the negative attentio in this case. Either way, if you're a parent of a '15 or '16 football recruit...do you really want to send your kid to Michigan right now?
February 25th, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^
The students protest is bordering on rediculous. Claiming that it's easier to "get tickets for a football game than it is to report a rape" is an incredibly dumb thing to say. All 911 calls go to Ann Arbor PD, no the university.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
So what? Students protest everything.
Police investigated an alleged rape and prosecutor decided not to file charges. What exactly did this have to do with the University of Michigan football team. They were faced with a he said/she said situation.
All the crazy talk about stretch-gate and allegations of player mistreatment/flouting rules came down to 20 fucking minutes and an inept compliance department. Now you have this disgruntled guy yelling conspiracy and the Daily screaming for things that at the end of the day are more about what Michigan disclosed to the media and now what the did Michigan do in 2009. Its self-important pricks thinking they have the story of the century when its a big fucking house of cards and self-hating Michigan fans claiming its the downfall of the program.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^
The tornado of misinformation that is forming outside of the Flemming building is incredible. The letter provided by the students is not only hypocritical, it essentialy makes up points to illustrate some sort of case.
Hoke did not explicitly say "Brendan Gibbons was expelled for rape" (a point in their protest it appears), therefore Michigan Football players get to act with impunity and protection. Except the whole getting expelled thing.
For the love of pants guys, go back and try to pass an AP history essay before dreaming up an argument again.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^
There's basically one sentece there you couldn't find (better written) on the front page of this here blog. Which is the one about impunity, which is a logical stretch, but otherwise, they're basically right. The handling of this case did create the appearance of impropriety, regardless of whether there actually is impropriety. I want to know if that appearance is just the general incompetence of the University's (and the Athletic Department in particular) public relations people or if something actually awful happened.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
That's basically their central point. That and the fact that the University didn't publish a debriefing on the expulsion of a football player. Between those two points, they've concluded that the University is not promoting a safe environment. I personally haven't seen any report or justification on anyone getting expelled in my entire time at UMich, but apparently that was somehow required here.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
allegation that Hoke's use of the term "family matter" some how created a thunder dome esque campus where you have to walk around in fear of a football player jumping out from behind a bush with a baseball bat.
Having said that, I'm not surprised by the protest. There's nothing wrong with ensuring that Michigan is correctly handling allegations of this type.
I just wish it could be done without the histrionics. But we wouldn't be talking about it if it hadn't been, now would we?
February 25th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^
I still can't comprehend the leap of logic that occurred.... Gibbons is expelled and Hoke described his absence from the team at the BWW game as related to a family matter, somehow creates an appearance of special treatment, condoning acts of violence and impunity?
February 26th, 2014 at 8:39 AM ^
expelled for rape. He was expelled because there was a slightly more than 50% chance that inappropriate sexual contact occured or something to that effect.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 3:42 PM ^
2nd biggest piece of crap I've seen today (first was after some street meat for lunch).
Its quite amazing that they are harping on what Hoke said to prove a point and ignoring that GIBBONS WAS EXPELLED. who gives 2 shits what Hoke said in his press conference and the fact that they are saying he should've said "no comment" is icing on the cake. Its idiots like these and their co-conspirators in the media are why press conferences have been boring generic talking points where nothing is said
February 25th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
Lying about the reason a player is no longer on the team when they player was expelled because the university determined that a preponderance of the evidence indicated that the player was guilty of severe sexual misconduct is kind of a major issue. This is especially true with how non-forthcoming Hoke is about issues of player availability most of the time. We expect him to say "no comment" or "boo-boo" and not give us any real information.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
So saying Gibbons was not with the team and was home dealing with "family matters" is a major issue? Gotcha.
Lets just ignore the fact that "family matters" wasn't exactly a lie. It may not have been the full story but it wasn't untruthful.. getting expelled over rape allegations would certain cause issues with my family.
February 25th, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^
no evidence of Hoke having lied. He may have, he might not have, but until there is proof, why not lay off the allegations without foundation.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
Maybe they got most of their facts wrong because they wrote the letter in January?
February 25th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
How can I take their letter seriously when they can't even get the month right? If they get that wrong, I'm sure many other statements are wrong.
February 25th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 3:40 PM ^
Perhaps you guys know more about this than I do. I live many states away and have only read a little about this but from my understanding, there were never any charges filed against Gibbons because the alleged victim did not want to pursue the matter. Then many years after the alleged rape that never warranted any charges, Gibbons is suddenly expelled because of a change in University policy. So Gibbons gets thrown under the bus by the university and now his reputation is forever destroyed.....and he may not have even done anything wrong?
If anyone's civil rights were violated, it was Gibbons. Or am I missing some important legal details?
February 25th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
Well, there's the alleged victim, who didn't want to pursue charges in part because she knew how she'd be treated if she did.
So I'm going to go with her as far as people whose rights were violated.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
So we're just going to assume Gibbons' guilt now? I'm sure that the victim talking to her boyfriend had nothing to do with the allegation and nearly immediate retraction. Or the fact that they had hooked up days previously? Or that the only evidence is bruising? Never saw that coming when one participant is 220 lbs and the other is 100.
Interesting read:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB100014240527023036153045791579001…
Also, I don't have it in front of me, but wasn't he expelled for "not receiving adequate consent" because she had been drinking? UM was able to expel him because they could prove that he did have sex with her (and that she had been drinking) not that he ASSAULTED her. That's it. If you have sex with a girl who has had a drink, you could/should be expelled under these rules should she allege anything against you.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
I don't think they've ever said anything about the particulars of why Gibbons was expelled other than "sexual misconduct". I can't recall reading anything about the expulsion being specifically for lack of adequate consent. It was the more generic "sexual misconduct", which could obviously cover what you mention but could cover a whole lot of other stuff as well.
February 25th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
And her account is that she did not give consent. There are some inconsistencies in her story, but each time she's interviewed in the police report that one is consistent.
My larger point was that due to the way accusers of sexual assault are treated in this country (and for the record, James Taranto is a prime example of this, dude has never met a rape case he didn't think was the woman's fault), accusers are reluctant to come forward, especially against a public figure. Which any player, no matter how obscure would be considered. And that's a violation of rights, one considerably more abhorrent that Gibbons' expulsion.
You'll note that's a commonality between this case and the MSU one. And a ton of others.
February 25th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
However, meta stats have nothing to do with 1 case, regardless of who is involved. That's why crimes are investigated by police and the whole premise behind our legal system.
February 25th, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^
of your argument is that you assume she did not come forward, but that is factually incorrect. She in fact did come forward, almost immediately. As in the very same night. So do put that sophistry aside, would you please?
February 25th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 11:15 PM ^
The alleged victim refuses to allow the truth to come out.
February 25th, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
February 25th, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
We are not alone. Funny how ESPN failed to mention the other schools involved in similar investigations:
MSU:
http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/02/us_department_of_ed…
List of all schools being investigated:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/31/college-sexual-assault-complai…
February 26th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^
It's appears to be very easy for any disgruntled employee, student, fan of a rival or anyone else to start the process, thereby costing the universities thousands of dollars.
I fully support a system that is fair and reasonable to all. I feel this is veering off into dangerous territory.
February 25th, 2014 at 9:13 PM ^