ESPN is reporting today that officials at the University of Missouri failed to investigate claims made by swimmer Sasha Menu Courey that she was raped by members of the football team in 2010.
Menu Courey died in 2011 after ingesting 100 Tylenol, which has been officially declared a suicide.
ESPN describes a back-and-forth that they’ve had with various university officials over the matter, with the university saying that it did not become aware of the allegations until after Menu Corey’s death, and that they believe that they are honoring Menu Courey’s wishes by not investigating the matter, because she never reported the issue to police.
The matter that ESPN is specifically delving into is not whether or not the alleged rape occurred albeit an important piece of information. They are looking at whether there should have been an investigation into the allegations according to Title IX and other laws to determine if the rape actually happened.
ESPN looks into medical records and conversations with crisis counselors that Menu Courey had discussing her accusations.
ESPN’s Outside the Lines report is very thorough on the subject, and so we’ll direct to them for further details about the allegations. Read that report here.
Update:
See also the University of Missouri’s two responses to the investigation, including public posting of email correspondence with ESPN, to read the response from the University.
I want to tread lightly here because I know this situation is a sensitive one. I got the impression that ESPN was looking for a person to blame and the tone and questioning of the reporter when interviewing the Mizzou coach showed they found their person. I think the confusion on the coach’s face makes more sense when you read the first letter from one of the Mizzou associate ADs dated in December. They were apparently surprised by the questions ESPN asked and the angle ESPN chose to take with their report. Every decision made by Mizzou, when taken in context, can be defended. Unfortunately, when someone commits suicide it’s not as easy as we would like to assign blame.
After watching the piece this morning I have to say the interview with the coach does not make it look better. His confusion and facial expressions don’t instill confidence that the athletics department was looking out for her best interest.
This is a sad story. That swim coach needs to seek help. He made it seem as though he didn’t care. It’s obvious he knows little about mental health. He sounded like a guy the was hired by the University to make the swim team a top 15 program and he didn’t have time to deal with the mental issues of one of his swimmers. I sure hope someone pays, this “STINKS”.
I read the mizzou side of it. What a hit piece. Horrible journalism. They made it sound like her parents didn’t okay her withdrawal from school, or that the coach pulled her scholarship. None of that is true. Plus, they told him it was a piece about mental illness, then threw a bunch of brand new accusations at him with no time to prepare. Poor guy. No wonder he looked confused. And what about her friend who knew who raped her, but didn’t tell the police. They make him look like an angel. Disgusting!
I feel like the video on espn failed to mention anything about the alleged football cover up on the the rape allegations. An occurrence which seems to be happening more and more in the high school and collegiate football levels.
i am so sick of this…..
Universities & colleges are ill equipped and HORRIBLE at handling this type of stuff. Iowa (2007), Notre Dame (decades), Penn State (Sandusky) Pacific (2008), etc.
Florida State (2008)
Florida State 2013!!!
Hi,
Sasha was my cousin and she had problems well beyond this incident. No one should believe that she died because Missouri did not investigate the incident but that does not excuse them for not doing it either.
The permissive and entitled culture at Missouri, especially when it comes to football players, is what led to this assault, make no mistake, and if it had not happened she might still be alive. That is why it is an issue and why, accountability or not, it needs to be discussed whether or not it makes the people who run the school uncomfortable.
much too common story