Student Accuses NCAA Football Players, Coaches and Staff of Sexual Harassment
Allegations of sexual harassment made by a student intern who worked for the University of California, Berkeley football team have been referred to the school’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, ESPN reported.
Paige Cornelius, who was a sports medicine intern, said in a Facebook post that she withdrew from school this month and is “seeking intensive therapy and psychiatry for the post traumatic stress syndrome and anxiety that happened from the time I spent working for the Cal Football team.”
She said the worst harassment came from some of the coaches.
“What I did not expect was the ruthless, endless, and persistent sex harassment from the coaches,” Cornelius said.
She alleged, among other things, that a member of the coaching staff said to her: “I will get you fired if you do not have sex with me.”
A former sports medicine intern at Cal has accused players, staff members of sexual harassment.
“I will get you fired if you do not have sex with me.”https://t.co/8FlV5g2sQf
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) March 21, 2019
Cornelius told ESPN that she informed athletic director Jim Knowlton, football coach Justin Wilcox and other staff members about her experiences but got no response. She said that’s one of the reasons she went public with her story.
She told ESPN that the coach who threatened to get her fired was a volunteer assistant. He is no longer with the program, a source told ESPN.
Cornelius also called out another coach.
“He would not leave me alone at practice, following me around to each drill, making remarks on how I looked that day,” she wrote on Facebook. “To no surprise, he found me on Instagram, and starting messaging me, for which then I blocked him.
“One day after practice, I realized he was following me home, as he was supposed to be going in the opposite direction, but was keeping a close pace behind me before he caught up to me outside my front door. He asked me what I was doing that weekend, and that we should go to the pool, because ‘I would look amazing in a bikini’. This coach is still employed by Cal Football, just to make that clear.”
The university issued a statement about the allegations Thursday.
“We are aware of the very disturbing public allegations made on social media,” Cal officials said, reported KRON-TV in San Francisco. “As is our policy when such assertions are made, we have immediately referred the matter to the campus Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, which is responsible for investigating such assertions. These allegations go against the very core of our values.”
University officials told ESPN that campus prevention and response efforts have increased in recent years.
NEW DETAILS: UC Berkeley responds to former Cal Athletics intern’s sexual harassment allegations. You can read the statement here https://t.co/6Hnwa2dRe7
— KRON4 News (@kron4news) March 21, 2019
“Cal Athletics is and will always be committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels safe, welcome and respected,” the university said, according to KRON. “All of those associated with the department are expected to maintain ethical standards at all times. We encourage anyone who is feeling distressed or troubled to contact the PATH to Care Center for confidential support, and other campus resources.
“Athletics does not have its own specific conduct process nor does it investigate allegations or cases on its own, but follows the University’s policy and works in concert with campus professionals who are responsible for those areas.
“While we can discuss our process for handling these matters, we generally cannot address any specific case. Allegations of sexual violence and sexual harassment by campus employees are confidential unless officials determine policy is violated, and disciplinary action has been decided. Such allegations against students remain private regardless of the outcome, under UC policy and federal law regarding student records.
“Campus prevention and response efforts have increased in recent years. All university staff and all students are required to complete sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training. In addition the athletic department sponsors supplementary formal training for coaches, staff and student-athletes in sexual violence awareness and prevention, bystander intervention, and campus reporting procedures.”
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