Seven women will file a federal lawsuit against LSU, the Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF) and several University administrators, The Advocate reported on Monday. Â
The women accuse LSU of prioritizing its reputation and football program above their safety and discouraging student victims from reporting Title IX offenses. They allege that the university retaliated against students when they did report.Â
The plaintiffs also allege that LSU violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the federal law used to prosecute organized crime syndicates. For years, LSU and the Tiger Athletic Foundation have ignored known systemic issues in LSUâs response to reports of sexual misconduct in favor of promoting and glorifying LSU student-athletes and coaches to reap the financial and reputational benefits of a venerated college football program, the lawsuit reads.
Class action lawsuit targets LSU s Title IX scandal
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Kenny Jacoby and Nancy Armour
USA TODAY
Seven women filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Louisiana State University, its leadership, athletic fundraising arm and several top administrators on Monday, alleging they conspired to cover up the women’s reports of sexual misconduct and dating violence, discriminated against female students and deprived them of their rights.
The women include three former LSU tennis players, two former football recruiting office student workers, a former student and a current student.
Together, they accused the school of prioritizing its reputation and football program above their safety and welfare and for creating a “culture of silence” where student victims were discouraged from and retaliated against for reporting Title IX offenses, according to a copy of the 124-page lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY. They are seeking damages in excess of $5 million, plus court costs.
The end of next month will mark one year after George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, leading to an eruption of Black Lives Matter protests across the country in 2020.
Eight days after his death, Black Out LSU organized students to peacefully demonstrate against police brutality and racial inequality in the Quad. It would be the first protest of many in a year at LSU that was characterized by student activism.
From the protests that erupted in Baton Rouge after the death of George Floyd, to the sit-in protests against the Universityâs mishandling of sexual assault allegations, students have put constant pressure on local leaders and administrators throughout the 2020-21 school year.
COVID-19 and LSU
There were 1,562 COVID-19 cases in the fall and 693 in the spring semester, according to the COVID-19 Reporting Dashboard. In the spring, the University administered over 10,000 COVID-19 tests. Since March 2020, the University reported that 6,478 students and 3,488 employees said they received vaccines.
The University began administering vaccines in March at Tiger Stadium. The state supplied LSU with Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Galligan announced in April that LSU could not require students to receive vaccines in order to attend LSU, but some faculty members called for LSU to rethink that decision.
Classes were held in person, in a hybrid format and fully online. According to the University, one-third of classes occurred in each format.
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