Can the Dept of Education deny Pell Grants and other scholarships to students who attend institutions that won't prosecute rape crimes? I know, punishing the student is not the best route, it just might bring down enrollment enough to get the attention of the administrators. Something has to be done. This is a disgrace.
10
The Baylor Baptists' attitudes sound familiarly like the "Christians" who support Trump and some of the other discriminatory Republicans. Don't let my beliefs interfere with my perceived needs!
17
This is just another incident in which colleges protect rapists, not their victims, but at lest there was a trial with a just verdict. Colleges will have to agree to let the legal system prosecute rapes that occur on campus. Although justice is still rare for victims, they do a better job, especially when athletes are involved.
37
Great article.... and another depressing example of how sports mania and supposedly devout Christianity conspire to overlook decidedly un-Christian behavior. But of course, as long as the team wins and the alumni dollars keep flowing nicely to pay for lavish new stadiums, etc., what difference do a few rapes make? Cf. Joe Paterno, Jimbo Fisher, et al.
22
Rape is a violent and egregious crime. The duplicity of the administration of Baylor under its president, Ken Starr to sweep the incident under the rug and "dismiss" the accused while allowing him to participate indirectly in their athletic program is criminal, hypocritical and cynical. Mr. Starr's whining indictment of Bill Clinton still rings in my ears.
However, as several of your comments suggest, is anyone really surprised? I certainly am not.
However, as several of your comments suggest, is anyone really surprised? I certainly am not.
20
Jane Doe didn't have to go through this for the world to know Ken Starr's hypocrisy. Ken Starr, Waco Texas, football: perfect storm!
14
Ken Starr is concerned only about consensual sex acts.
20
Someone should investigate ken starr and let it go down every possible path with full presumption that he is guilty or at least covering up the fact that he is innocent. It should be done by threatening jail time for all students who withhold information and a presumption that they, the students, are also guilty of covering up something that nobody is sure what that might be.
Karma ...
Karma ...
12
The vast amount of money spent on college athletics has corrupted the not only the athletes, but also administrators, coaches and alumni. Athletic scholarships should be abandoned. Scholarships should be based on need, and admission based on academic potential. But what would they do with their vast and pricey facilities?
Too bad.
Too bad.
7
When I was at a SUNY school there were no athletic scholarships. The athletes in some of the sports acted just as badly as those at the big sports schools. I'm not sure what the problem is: if it's the privilege that comes with being in sports or the fact that some of them never suffer any consequences for their bad behavior, or it's the win at all costs mentality that many coaches have. (So do too many alumni.)
7
The real message in America is that it's okay to rape someone or commit a crime in college if you are an athlete, especially a male athlete who plays one of the big sports. The other message is that women shouldn't complain when a man pays attention to them. After all, if they are at all attractive they should welcome the attention. If they aren't attractive they ought to be glad that any man notices them. That was true when I was in my twenties some 30 years ago and, sadly, it's still true now.
We can complain about sexual harassment all we want but the ones who do it, men for the most part, don't see it as harassment. They don't understand that women don't appreciate being looked at in school or at work or on the street as objects. We should not have hide our selves or our bodies because men feel that any sign of flesh or sexuality is a signal to rape, harass, or wolf whistle. Even if we do those things, men still find reasons to bother us. And then they hate it if it's done to them but that doesn't stop them doing again.
How often do we have to say that rape and other forms of violence against women and children is not okay? How often do we have to say that No is not Yes? And why are athletes and celebrities given a free pass to harass whomever they want? I'm glad I never had an athlete as my personal hero.
We can complain about sexual harassment all we want but the ones who do it, men for the most part, don't see it as harassment. They don't understand that women don't appreciate being looked at in school or at work or on the street as objects. We should not have hide our selves or our bodies because men feel that any sign of flesh or sexuality is a signal to rape, harass, or wolf whistle. Even if we do those things, men still find reasons to bother us. And then they hate it if it's done to them but that doesn't stop them doing again.
How often do we have to say that rape and other forms of violence against women and children is not okay? How often do we have to say that No is not Yes? And why are athletes and celebrities given a free pass to harass whomever they want? I'm glad I never had an athlete as my personal hero.
14
The problem with our information systems in the 21st century is that the information we receive is nearly always without perspective or context. Mr. Nocera seeks to condemn the entire football program, even the entire school administration, based on the criminal conduct of one bad guy. He strangely advocates that because a football player was involved, the whole concept of innocence until proven guilty is inapplicable. It seems every case of football player intransience becomes big news, implying that the entire nationwide endeavor is evil. I wonder what percent of males in general commit rape, as compared to college football players. Given the intense coaching oversight and personal discipline inherent in college athletic programs, I suspect solving the problem of rape in America should not start in the locker room. Mr. Nocera and his media industry are drawn to sensational stories that sell newspapers, but do not address our most pressing real problems. Its not just the liberal media. The conservative media routinely uses isolated horrible acts committed by illegal Hispanics to imply that such conduct describes 12 million other people. Folks, we are constantly being flooded with misleading, agenda-driven information, and this article is more of the same.
4
If you are in the public eye as football players are (and profiting from it) expect to have your behavior on & off the field scrutinized. No poor me allowed. College & pro football players embrace violence and feel entitled to a pass for crimes committed against women. Get over it, pay the price, do the crime do the time.
9
According to Mr. Nocera's article, Mr. Ukwuachu was not eligible to play on the Baylor football team, and was "sitting out a year as a transfer" at the time the incident occurred . Not to quibble but he was not on the Baylor football team, nor a Baylor football player during any of this including his trial. Of course this doesn't fit in well with Mr. Nocera's real reason for writing the piece, ie., attacking Mr. Starr, so I suppose that fact should be conveniently overlooked.
5
Here is a simple fix: the NCAA or individual conferences could REQUIRE
schools to conduct job performance evaluations in which graduate rates, academic achievement and other indicators of student-athlete success (like say, staying out the local jails) are weighed AT LEAST AS MUCH as win/loss records. Indeed, schools' share of shared revenue could also be made dependent on student-athlete's academic success.
Do this and the problem goes away. Don't do it -- or something like it -- and the problem will always be there.
schools to conduct job performance evaluations in which graduate rates, academic achievement and other indicators of student-athlete success (like say, staying out the local jails) are weighed AT LEAST AS MUCH as win/loss records. Indeed, schools' share of shared revenue could also be made dependent on student-athlete's academic success.
Do this and the problem goes away. Don't do it -- or something like it -- and the problem will always be there.
3
Joe, would it have been fair to Ukwuachu for the school to release what it knew once he was indicted? Would that helped or hurt his chances of obtaining an impartial jury & fair trial? I submit it would've been the latter & find that far more troubling than the "cover up".
(From Texas, but with zero loyalty to Baylor)
(From Texas, but with zero loyalty to Baylor)
2
Pretty sad commentary on a college supposedly grounded in the Baptist faith.
5
Why does Nocera omit the fact that the woman here was invited to Ukwuachu's apartment and willingly went there? This was a date rape. I agree that "rape is rape," but the hard truth is that date rape has always been particularly difficult to prove. I am not seeing how Baylor could have responded differently and still respect the rights (and itself from a lawsuit, had Ukwuachu been acquitted) of those who are innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately.
3
Spencer Hall, the brilliant writer and commentator on all things College Football pointed out that the accuser and accused shared classes and:
"Maybe the player and the accuser shouldn't have been in the same classes after the investigation started. Maybe she shouldn't have been the one who had to move her schedule."
It boggles the mind to think that Baylor admins considered this to be OK.
"Maybe the player and the accuser shouldn't have been in the same classes after the investigation started. Maybe she shouldn't have been the one who had to move her schedule."
It boggles the mind to think that Baylor admins considered this to be OK.
10
Unless we are prepared to suspend the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty', Baylor had no grounds to do anything to this man until he was convicted. Once he was, they took action.
I find it amazing that when a young black man is accused of theft, he is automatically innocent even when there is film of the occurrence until he is convicted and has run his course of appeals, and even then it is often excused by environmental factors; yet when a young black athlete is accused of rape, he should be immediately punished even before he has his day in court.
I find it amazing that when a young black man is accused of theft, he is automatically innocent even when there is film of the occurrence until he is convicted and has run his course of appeals, and even then it is often excused by environmental factors; yet when a young black athlete is accused of rape, he should be immediately punished even before he has his day in court.
6
How about we try to remember that these colleges and universities exist to educate young adults, not as platforms to launch sports for entertainment?
7
A similar incident happened at my local "sports university". Three basketball players, transfers, one of whom was kicked off his prior team for sexual assault, sexually assaulted a student. The university kept it secret because the team was about to make a rare appearance in the NCAA tournament and these players were essential to that success. To make matters worse, the university lawyers took possession of the victim's confidential counselling records in order to prepare for her lawsuit. The US Attorney General recently sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter informing the UO that such acts are illegal.
When will we find a university president with the integrity to terminate a sports program that gets out of control? These semi-pro teams corrupt far too many aspects of our institutions of higher learning.
When will we find a university president with the integrity to terminate a sports program that gets out of control? These semi-pro teams corrupt far too many aspects of our institutions of higher learning.
18
The next travesty is that he will only do 6 months in jail. Even Mike Tyson did more than that! Yes he gets 10 years probation and hopefully has to register for life as a sex offender but still, 6 months in jail for rape seems like he got off lightly again.
6
Six months? Twenty years of hard time would be appropriate.
6
What did Ken know and when did he know it? At least it’s comforting to know that Baylor is not a public institution supporting this kind of outrage with public money. I have lower expectations of “Christian” institutions, especially now since I’ve seen the Evangelical Christian embrace of Donald Trump.
7
This is just a technical point, but I cannot imagine the circumstances under which Baylor would "ask to look at the hospital rape kit" or be given the kit if such a request were made. Important physical evidence like that remains in the secure custody of investigators or the forensic lab(s). And since when can a third party (Baylor was not the prosecution or the defense) ever demand access to evidence or information about evidence from an ongoing criminal investigation?
3
JD, my guess is that the university might be given a report of the rape kit analysis. I seriously hope that no crime lab would let the actual evidence out of their control!
Enough outrage, which I share, has been written about Ken Starr's hypocrisy and the college football culture in re: sexual assault and the schools' priorities when it comes to thorough and fair investigations of sexual and other assault.
My qualm seems small, Mr. Nocera, but it is a central point about rape culture: why is it worth mentioning that the rape victim in this story is a virgin? Would it be less of a tragedy if she were not a virgin? Do women who are sexually active not deserve the same respect and protection as virgins? Are women who are sexually active less trustworthy when it comes to sexual assault allegations?
These are the small seeds of rape culture sown in our media, our daily conversations and implicitly taught to us by society. No woman, no matter the age, wardrobe, sobriety, time of day, activity or sexual history, deserves or invites rape. This is something we have to insist people understand.
My qualm seems small, Mr. Nocera, but it is a central point about rape culture: why is it worth mentioning that the rape victim in this story is a virgin? Would it be less of a tragedy if she were not a virgin? Do women who are sexually active not deserve the same respect and protection as virgins? Are women who are sexually active less trustworthy when it comes to sexual assault allegations?
These are the small seeds of rape culture sown in our media, our daily conversations and implicitly taught to us by society. No woman, no matter the age, wardrobe, sobriety, time of day, activity or sexual history, deserves or invites rape. This is something we have to insist people understand.
27
Stories like this keep coming up because we still worship star athletes. Only when they are given more appropriate levels of respect and admiration for their skills on the field and their actions off the field will they stop developing their God complex.
Unfortunately, I don't see this happening any time soon.
Unfortunately, I don't see this happening any time soon.
7
Sorry Joe, but I can't get on your bandwagon on this. You say there was not much doubt that Jane Doe was raped. So when I saw the 6-month sentence, I was outraged. But a bit of investigation shows there was significant doubt in the minds of the jury, since they did not convict him of rape, but of "second degree sexual asault." The facts are that the man sexually assaulted the woman, who immediately reported it and went to the hopsital. The police and DA indicted the attacker and put him on trial. He was tried before a judge and jury and was not convicted of rape. I don't buy into this hysteria that the college is supposed to shortcut the legal system and conduct its own shorthand trial and convict the defendant and punish him (or "exonerate" him as you state in the article). That any of this is to be done by well-intentioned but amatuer administrators, professors, committees or student councils, should disgust anyone who respects the rule of law and rights of the accused. If this academic gang convicts the defendant, then he is stigmatized and punished regardless of guilt. But if they exonerate him, as they did here, the real justice system carries on to exact justice. Other than outrage that colleges protect athletes, which was not even news when Paul Hornung was at Notre Dame, you don't add much here, except the lynch-mob mentality that too many "good and right thinking" people adopt.
7
I'm confused as to why you think the University was correct to exonerate the athlete. By your own admission, he obviously raped the woman, who went to the authorities and filed a criminal complaint. Personally, I don't think colleges should ever investigate alleged crimes. If I were raped, I would go directly to the police. Colleges are way more likely to exonerate students (especially athletes) than to punish them!
13
Wait, Ken Starr is unprincipled?
20
Actually, this is an example of Joe just distorting facts to conclude what he wants to conclude. The athlete passed a lie detector, which was a big deal to the administrator who ruled. And police departments don't give rape kits to private parties. But you see, Joe has a need to say that a school coddled an athlete, so he doesn't care about facts.
P.S. Also, it is not unclear what Boise State and Baylor knew about the athlete's actions while at Boise State. His then girlfriend testified under oath that she never told anyone about his attacking her until the trial in Waco. But again, an inconvenient fact for Joe so it's ignored.
P.S. Also, it is not unclear what Boise State and Baylor knew about the athlete's actions while at Boise State. His then girlfriend testified under oath that she never told anyone about his attacking her until the trial in Waco. But again, an inconvenient fact for Joe so it's ignored.
3
Lie detector test aren't even allowed as evidence in criminal trials in Texas because they're flawed. Also it has been proven during trial Sam Ukwuachu had his roommate lie to Baylor officials who investigated the rape. Bethany McCraw asked the victim for the rape kit results and told her she was still waiting on the results and McCraw never asked for them again. McCraw didn't even talk to the school psychiatrist who diagnosed the victim with PTSD. After the school found no evidence/being to0 lazy, the school treated the victim wrong and was eventually forced to leave school. There were major Title IX violations following the assault of this victm.
We can also look at the Boise St. side of this too. Yes the Institution had nothing on his issues while he was there but the athletic dept. had plenty. Chris Petersen knew of the issues along with athletic trainer Marc Paul. Since this was all done over the phone we will probably never know what Briles knew about Ukwuachu but we do know another school knew enough that they wouldn't consider him.
The bottom line is you had Baylor University fail a victim who was one of their own student athletes while they kept silent about a football player charged with rape.
We can also look at the Boise St. side of this too. Yes the Institution had nothing on his issues while he was there but the athletic dept. had plenty. Chris Petersen knew of the issues along with athletic trainer Marc Paul. Since this was all done over the phone we will probably never know what Briles knew about Ukwuachu but we do know another school knew enough that they wouldn't consider him.
The bottom line is you had Baylor University fail a victim who was one of their own student athletes while they kept silent about a football player charged with rape.
14
Lie detector tests -- which really measure physical reactions in the human physique -- or notoriously unreliable. Moreover, while it is correct that the actual rape kit (physical evidence) is not given out, Baylor asked for the REPORT on the rape kit. A nurse said she did not have one handy at the moment. Instead of pursuing the issue, Baylor let it lie.
As for what Ken Starr knew and when he knew it, Ukwuachu was indicted in June 2014. Indictments are a matter of public record. Baylor no action in the intervening 14 months to protect other students in the event Ukwuachu was actually guilty.
"nuff said.
As for what Ken Starr knew and when he knew it, Ukwuachu was indicted in June 2014. Indictments are a matter of public record. Baylor no action in the intervening 14 months to protect other students in the event Ukwuachu was actually guilty.
"nuff said.
5
I am conscious of medical privacy law, education law and the Duke lacrosse rape case. In the latter, the three acquitted and falsely accused lacrosse players sued Duke and the City of Durham. The three lacrosse players won large settlements, at great cost to the taxpayers. However:
-- When it comes to Boise State telling Baylor about Ukwuachu's psychiatric problems, Boise had its hands tied at least in part by student privacy laws.
-- Nocera writes that Ukwuachu's lawyer states that the Baylor did some kind of investigation and then "cleared" the football player. What was Baylor supposed to do? Judge, as though it had the resources of Texas's attorney general, and expel Ukwuachu?
-- After Ukwuachu was indicted, Baylor let him practice but did not let him play in the 2014 season's games. I do not see what the problem is. Innocent until proven guilty rings particularly true after the Duke lacrosse case and subsequent successful legal action against Duke and the City of Durham.
-- Nocera criticizes Starr for being silent. What was the Baylor President supposed to do? Conduct his own criminal investigation, as Duke did, only to be sued subsequently? Should Baylor University spokespeople prejudice the case against Ukwuachu, risking a reprimand from the judge and again, a lawsuit (had the accused been acquitted a la the Duke lacrosse trial)?
-- When it comes to Boise State telling Baylor about Ukwuachu's psychiatric problems, Boise had its hands tied at least in part by student privacy laws.
-- Nocera writes that Ukwuachu's lawyer states that the Baylor did some kind of investigation and then "cleared" the football player. What was Baylor supposed to do? Judge, as though it had the resources of Texas's attorney general, and expel Ukwuachu?
-- After Ukwuachu was indicted, Baylor let him practice but did not let him play in the 2014 season's games. I do not see what the problem is. Innocent until proven guilty rings particularly true after the Duke lacrosse case and subsequent successful legal action against Duke and the City of Durham.
-- Nocera criticizes Starr for being silent. What was the Baylor President supposed to do? Conduct his own criminal investigation, as Duke did, only to be sued subsequently? Should Baylor University spokespeople prejudice the case against Ukwuachu, risking a reprimand from the judge and again, a lawsuit (had the accused been acquitted a la the Duke lacrosse trial)?
26
Nocera - a babe in the woods - he was all for a tough set a sanctions on Penn State because it would send a message that football can't be bigger than the school. In fact - Mr. Nocera rode that train to the brink of Penn State getting the death penalty. The irony of course was that the perp had no current attachments to the program and Penn State reported the crime and did everything imaginable to pay restitution.
Now, what exactly did beating up Penn State accomplish????
NOTHING !!
Now, what exactly did beating up Penn State accomplish????
NOTHING !!
It seems we see adaptations of this tale every week… athlete is accused of fill-in-the-blank, university spokesman acknowledges awareness when its obvious they must, story is bigger than university hoped, university president is now shocked and appalled and calling for external investigation.
That’s the drill. Get used to it. Its college’s version of insider trading. There is simply is too much money at stake, in their collective mind.
But Mr. Starr, of all people, should be aware that the drill now requires two tiny pieces of fact:
- What did Starr know?
- When did he know it?
And then of course… what did he do about it, as the leader of Baylor, when he learned the facts.
Someone always winds up under the bus in these things. However it is rarely the Starr’s. After all he is the quarterback. My money is on the second string safety with slow times in the 40.
Wishing the young lady all the support she needs….
That’s the drill. Get used to it. Its college’s version of insider trading. There is simply is too much money at stake, in their collective mind.
But Mr. Starr, of all people, should be aware that the drill now requires two tiny pieces of fact:
- What did Starr know?
- When did he know it?
And then of course… what did he do about it, as the leader of Baylor, when he learned the facts.
Someone always winds up under the bus in these things. However it is rarely the Starr’s. After all he is the quarterback. My money is on the second string safety with slow times in the 40.
Wishing the young lady all the support she needs….
4
Six (6) months for rape, did I read that correctly. In Texas, that can't wait to execute people. Ken Starr is just the side show barker for this circus if tragedy.
5
This is one of the most intellectually dishonest columns I have read. If Baylor were not a Christian school and Ken Starr not the one who was appointed to look into Bill Clinton's sordid Oval Office immorality, Joe Nocera never would have considered writing this.
Nocera's logic is as sound as a pre-teen feigning indignation. Blaming Baylor and Ken Starr for the unspeakable actions of a student is not only redirecting where real blame should be placed, but it reeks of hypocrisy. Where was Nocera's editorial indignation when Sinedu Tadesse viciously stabbed to death her roommate, Trang Ho, at Harvard? Was it putting the blame on Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine, suggesting Harvard should have known Tadesse's past? Was it blaming the editors of the Harvard Crimson who actually received a warning letter with Tadesse's photograph prior to the murder but threw it in the trash?
Nocera should understand as well as anyone that universities cannot be responsible for the actions of their students. In another column at another time -- without the open season targets of a Christian university and Ken Starr -- he would likely be writing about protecting personal privacy, that until someone like Ukwuachu was convicted in court he is an innocent student and should be given the benefit of the doubt. Baylor and Ken Starr had an obligation to do that, and Nocera's hypocritical spin should be taken for what it is.
Nocera's logic is as sound as a pre-teen feigning indignation. Blaming Baylor and Ken Starr for the unspeakable actions of a student is not only redirecting where real blame should be placed, but it reeks of hypocrisy. Where was Nocera's editorial indignation when Sinedu Tadesse viciously stabbed to death her roommate, Trang Ho, at Harvard? Was it putting the blame on Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine, suggesting Harvard should have known Tadesse's past? Was it blaming the editors of the Harvard Crimson who actually received a warning letter with Tadesse's photograph prior to the murder but threw it in the trash?
Nocera should understand as well as anyone that universities cannot be responsible for the actions of their students. In another column at another time -- without the open season targets of a Christian university and Ken Starr -- he would likely be writing about protecting personal privacy, that until someone like Ukwuachu was convicted in court he is an innocent student and should be given the benefit of the doubt. Baylor and Ken Starr had an obligation to do that, and Nocera's hypocritical spin should be taken for what it is.
3
Yep, I can see why DC speechwriters are masters of the spin.
1
Mr. Nocera states the following concerning Mr. Starr:
"Ken Starr was as complicit in the two-year-long silence as anybody in the Baylor athletic department, which makes his current “anguish” seem like little more than P.R. posturing. If you Google Starr, you’ll find plenty of pictures of him on the Baylor football field, cheering on the team."
I'm sorry, but this statement hardly shows that the president of a university with 16,263 students was "complicit" in the alleged cover up for an individual athlete. You'd need a lot more evidence than random "Google Images" of Mr. Starr at football games to substantiate this claim of his complicity. It's of course possible in principle, but this article does little if anything to substantiate such a claim.
In fact, Mr. Nocera comes painfully close to implying that Baylor's president ought to accomplish what Mr. Nocera himself describes in paragraph 6 as a matter of "absurdity": the all-seeing school official who would oversee student-athlete behavior.
"Ken Starr was as complicit in the two-year-long silence as anybody in the Baylor athletic department, which makes his current “anguish” seem like little more than P.R. posturing. If you Google Starr, you’ll find plenty of pictures of him on the Baylor football field, cheering on the team."
I'm sorry, but this statement hardly shows that the president of a university with 16,263 students was "complicit" in the alleged cover up for an individual athlete. You'd need a lot more evidence than random "Google Images" of Mr. Starr at football games to substantiate this claim of his complicity. It's of course possible in principle, but this article does little if anything to substantiate such a claim.
In fact, Mr. Nocera comes painfully close to implying that Baylor's president ought to accomplish what Mr. Nocera himself describes in paragraph 6 as a matter of "absurdity": the all-seeing school official who would oversee student-athlete behavior.
1
Wow, another story about a criminal and violent behavior on the part of a football player. How novel !
5
Ken Star is a despicable hypocrite. Maybe he should hire Bill Clinton to investigate his complicity in this ugly sad scandalous episode.
When Star is implicated Clinton can say (paraphrasing Star during impeachment): "Who is not sorrowful for the entire chapter in (Baylor) history? But the law is the law and no one is above the law."
After Star is embarrassing exposed and fired, Clinton can add: "It was the decision, and it was an unhappy decision, but it was the right decision."
When Star is implicated Clinton can say (paraphrasing Star during impeachment): "Who is not sorrowful for the entire chapter in (Baylor) history? But the law is the law and no one is above the law."
After Star is embarrassing exposed and fired, Clinton can add: "It was the decision, and it was an unhappy decision, but it was the right decision."
6
Maybe they could appoint Bill Clinton to investigate Ken Starr...
Seriously, how do people who allow this conduct to continue
be allowed to continue working for these supposedly institutions
of higher learning? Start firing A.D.'s and complicit coaches and
university presidents and this nonsense would end. Maybe a threat
to end federal funding...
Seriously, how do people who allow this conduct to continue
be allowed to continue working for these supposedly institutions
of higher learning? Start firing A.D.'s and complicit coaches and
university presidents and this nonsense would end. Maybe a threat
to end federal funding...
7
$266 million for a stadium in Waco; $1billion for a stadium in Santa Clara. Knowing now that American football leads to permanent head injuries, these good Christian men seem to have no hesitation to feeding these young men to the lions.
6
I don't why this is college affair at all. It is a criminal case of rape,not an indictment of the school or the football team. The town's police should have handled this incident from the beginning.Let the criminal courts mete out punishment for these heinous crimes that happen to take place on a campus setting.
2
Anybody surprised? Starr's involvement though, is a bonus
7
The GOP certainly cultivates the spirit of Ken Starr as they follow Hillary around from Benghazi to the state dept. emails. Untrustworthy, they say? But then, the voters need to be entertained.
7
Ken Starr- an unprincipled hypocrite now and in 1988.
9
I've something here. I'm not a fan of Ken Starr, and his actions, as accounted here, are all fluff, but isn't the real story here that a university chose player protection and financial benefit over victim protection, the law, and justice, and that's before we even begin to address that it's a Christian university. Christian or not, the university's handling of his situation is deplorable. Clearly the player needs help be it therapy, counseling, medication, etc. What he does not need is to be coddled from the responsibilities of his actions. Those coaches who were aware of the charges but believed them to be so minor the player would return should be reprimanded for their poor judgement and poor understanding that rape is not a misdemeanor. The university's administration needs to be instrumental in educating students, faculty, and coaches on all aspects of sexual assault and its ramifications, and it should also provide its students with assuredness of safety and full support against acts of violence. I can't address the sentence of 6 months for rape. If the crime wasn't so serious, this punishment would be laughable. Mr. Starr's actions are all hot air, but that's not the relevant story here.
1
The question I have is not related to Ken Starr (I don't believe this would be a story in the NYT if he were not involved--maybe other press, but not NYT):
As a Baptist college how did Christian ideals inform how Baylor treated the victim? How was she supported and consoled? The article doesn't address this question. If I were a parent with a child considering matriculating to Baylor I would want an answer.
As a Baptist college how did Christian ideals inform how Baylor treated the victim? How was she supported and consoled? The article doesn't address this question. If I were a parent with a child considering matriculating to Baylor I would want an answer.
65
You can read that in the Texas Monthly Story. It is not pretty
2
Nocera is right to cite the hypocrisy, negligence and complicity of the Baylor administration, including Starr. But neither he nor those who covered the Rice assault, appear to be as disturbed by the behavior of the criminal justice system. Rice, remember, received a wkend of anger management for an assault that would have normally comprised a Class A Felony. Ukwuachu recived no punishment at all for his assault on a previous girlfriend and his sentence for a brutal rape, 6 months in a county jail, is little more than a slap on the wrist. Had the prosecutors and courts done their jobs in these cases, had they valued the harms to the women involved by superstars appropriately, a clear message would have been sent and there would be no question of keeping these men on the field. If the criminal justice system doesn't take domestic violence and rape with the seriousness they deserve, how can we expect mere coaches and college presidents to do so?
92
JIm's wife
The question we should be asking is what does football do to the brains of young men?? After my son had a mild concussion last year from an accident, I learned much about the effects of concussion. An overwhelming number of career football players and even some high school players show signs of serious brain damage when their brains are autopsied. Frontal lobe damage effects executive functioning such as delaying gratification and understanding consequences. I wonder how many concussions that young man had before he made it to Baylor. Why any parents would let their young boys play football is beyond me.
The question we should be asking is what does football do to the brains of young men?? After my son had a mild concussion last year from an accident, I learned much about the effects of concussion. An overwhelming number of career football players and even some high school players show signs of serious brain damage when their brains are autopsied. Frontal lobe damage effects executive functioning such as delaying gratification and understanding consequences. I wonder how many concussions that young man had before he made it to Baylor. Why any parents would let their young boys play football is beyond me.
3
Yes, concussion is a serious problem, and youth football is a form of child abuse. But the question being asked is how much abhorrent behavior are the fat cats running our universities willing to sweep under the rug? We hear this over and over again, and it will not end until college sports, especially football, are uncoupled form the schools' income stream. If football wants to have a farm system, they should set one up and pay for it, not pretend that these athletes are getting an education. The only thing they're learning is football, and they finish school social, intellectual and emotional cripples, which makes them better football players
2
Please don't make this situation at Baylor about anything other than the violent assault and rape of the victim. The convicted rapist could have had a dozen concussions beforehand for all I care. Nowhere in this op-ed piece does it mention that the "safe environment" Starr works "tirelessly" to provide on the Baylor campus forced the victim to change her classes to avoid her rapist and eventually leave the school after her athletic scholarship was reduced. Baylor's administration wholly failed this young woman (and probably many before her) and the Title IX violations which have come to light will hopefully bring the sanctions and dismissals from staff which will begin the culture change so necessary in Waco.
3
College athletes have been accused of rape many times over the years. They are aggressive by nature and perhaps their egos tell them they can do what they want and she won't take action about it. Wherever it comes from, there must be a zero tolerance, one-strike perspective on college campuses. Moreover, there should be meetings with all college men explaining things that they may have missed along the way:
1. No means no, in any language, expressed in any manner.
2. Against her will is against the law. Rape is a crime.
3. These things are out of the closet now and hospital exams don't lie.
4. You will pay.
5. If you need psychological help it is available on campus. Get it.
1. No means no, in any language, expressed in any manner.
2. Against her will is against the law. Rape is a crime.
3. These things are out of the closet now and hospital exams don't lie.
4. You will pay.
5. If you need psychological help it is available on campus. Get it.
61
And then perpetrators of rape need to serve long prison sentences. Until this happens, rapists will not stop raping.
1
Baylor is in a pickle. Do they want to be the faith-based, nice little school they profess to be? Or do they want to become part of the big time athletic machine, such as neighbors Texas and Texas A&M? They can be part of both groups, but money and prestige are powerful drugs. Now that they have tasted the big time, it may be difficult to go back.
2
6 months for rape? Seems a little light, no?
10
Rape and football, it becomes ever more apparent, go together like a hand in a glove.
The convicted rapist should have received 20 years in a hard time prison, not six months in jail and probation.
Every school where a football player commits rape should respond by shutting down football for two years. Fat chance of that happening.
The convicted rapist should have received 20 years in a hard time prison, not six months in jail and probation.
Every school where a football player commits rape should respond by shutting down football for two years. Fat chance of that happening.
7
NFL players have lower rates of violent crime than men in society generally. That includes rape and domestic violence.
The fact is that college football has become a major part of today's equivalent of the Roman games, free entertainment which diverts the restless population from what are for some, the overwhelming frustrations of life. As gladiators, the players for the most part are lionized and used for while then discarded without having acquired a skill set necessary to prosper in real life. Like most of the young, they suppose they are bulletproof and our media, fans and universities encourage what is a pretty damning and subversive mind set, but entirely understandable.
4
Nocrea: "The importance of having a good football team...may help explain why it was willing to accept Ukwuachu in the first place."
Think it not only "may help explain why" but explains why. Being a stellar athlete provided Sam a ticket to Baylor; character and academic ability have nothing to do with his presence on campus, unfortunately.
Think it not only "may help explain why" but explains why. Being a stellar athlete provided Sam a ticket to Baylor; character and academic ability have nothing to do with his presence on campus, unfortunately.
5
Actually monitoring student athletes may not be such a stupid thing. Studies of rape on campus (as explained in the current issue of the Atlantic Monthly) show that perpetrators of rape are skew toward fraternities and athletes in "helmeted sports" including football and lacrosse. Plus most perpetrators are serial rapists. So you may have a relatively small number of frat boys and athletes doing great damage to young women. Some oversight and first-person intel would not be a bad way to root out the bad actors.
In fact, some universities are already "monitoring" freshmen women, who are the most likely to get raped on campus. Monitoring is my word. Universities are creating support groups, holding info sessions, setting up buddy systems and so on to ensure freshman women can spread their wings and enjoy their new freedom free of abuse.
In fact, some universities are already "monitoring" freshmen women, who are the most likely to get raped on campus. Monitoring is my word. Universities are creating support groups, holding info sessions, setting up buddy systems and so on to ensure freshman women can spread their wings and enjoy their new freedom free of abuse.
2
Thank goodness Baylor has a full time position for monitoring the behavior of student athletes! Consider how absurd that is. Do other students in other extracurricular activities get staff to monitor their behavior? No, absolutely not. I guess the students in the geology club or the student newspaper act like adults. Speaking of adulthood, isn't one of the defenses of not paying athletes this notion that they're students and at the school to get an education? And can't we agree that part of the college education is living on your own, like an adult, for the first time? I guess the student athletes at Baylor (I don't want to paint all student athletes and colleges with a broad brush) are more like preschool children who need someone to monitor what they're doing.
14
Every time a football player commits a crime, or is just accused of one, it is a big headline, and people like Joe distort facts to make it seem not just a crime by a student but an indictment of the school and all of collegiate athletics. When a member of the geology club commits a crime, no one takes notice. So Baylor creates this monitor to help protect itself from bad publicity, not because athletes are the only students on campus who commit crimes.
Ken Starr, former Republican grand inquisitor, caught up in his own sex scandal - rape cover up and religion. Perhaps there is a god?
14
Not to raise a point that might interfere with the real object of this piece which seems to be to portray Kenneth Star and college football as bad, but if as the article mentions in passing, the rape occurred while Mr. Ukwuachu was sitting out a year and ineligible to play, then he wasn't really on the football team and was not really a Baylor University football player. O well, I guess that's just an inconvenient fact that should be disregarded.
No, it is an irrelevant "fact". Was he at Baylor on a football scholarship? Was he protected because he was going to play in the following year?
3
And to add to Rita's comment, he was allowed to do conditioning (ie work out) with the team.
1
He was on a Baylor football scholarship, therefore, most would recognize that as "being on the football team". He was sitting out a year per the NCAA transfer regulations, as Mr. Nocera's piece notes.
2
I am not a Baptist and what the Baptists do is, at the end of the day, not a particularly great concern to me. However, Baylor is officially affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist church, and as such what happens on campus reflects on the church. Keep in mind that, as a Baptist school, Baylor doesn't even allow 'dancing' on campus.
Yet, Baylor athletics was permanently stained a few years ago when one of its basketball players killed a teammate, and the coach covered it up. And then there is this case, with coaches and administrators apparently complicit in trying to cover up a rape committed by another Baylor athlete. There is also the financial greed of Ken Starr & co. when they threatened Texas A&M University and the University of Missouri for acting in their own best interests by changing their conference affiliations.
So, what say ye members and leaders of the Baptist church and the Southern Baptist Convention, was the Big 12 co-championship last year and a top 10 preseason ranking this year worth staining the name of your flagship university with such hypocrisy, greed, criminal shenanigans and cover ups?
Yet, Baylor athletics was permanently stained a few years ago when one of its basketball players killed a teammate, and the coach covered it up. And then there is this case, with coaches and administrators apparently complicit in trying to cover up a rape committed by another Baylor athlete. There is also the financial greed of Ken Starr & co. when they threatened Texas A&M University and the University of Missouri for acting in their own best interests by changing their conference affiliations.
So, what say ye members and leaders of the Baptist church and the Southern Baptist Convention, was the Big 12 co-championship last year and a top 10 preseason ranking this year worth staining the name of your flagship university with such hypocrisy, greed, criminal shenanigans and cover ups?
19
There was no cover-up. This went to a standard investigation that all complaints of student misconduct go to, and the accused passed a lie detector test. The woman administrator ruled in his favor. The accused was still not allowed to play football while his criminal trial proceeded, and Baylor did nothing to impede such trial.
The wonder of this is not that Baylor University failed to meet its obligations but rather that the Texas judicial system did. Once the facts were known in open court, how can a violent rapist qualify for just six months in the local county jail? Is violent rape not a felony in Texas? Do other convicted rapists in Texas get off as lightly?
There has never been any doubt that justice in the United States, and certainly in Texas, is unequal and hardly blind, but egregious cases like this one are beyond even what we have become used to.
There has never been any doubt that justice in the United States, and certainly in Texas, is unequal and hardly blind, but egregious cases like this one are beyond even what we have become used to.
14
Ken Starr's administration is less than forthright -- what a surprise!! Anyone remember Whitewater-to-intern? How many millions of federal tax dollars did he waste on the Starr Report -- remember the graphic and wholly irrelevant footnotes? But - wait- he's a good Baptist.
14
The pathology of Starr and his admin. is endemic in many disciplines. An holier than thou attorney endorsing criminality. What's the difference with Paterno and Penn?
12
When I read of these awful situations - not just rape and other offenses by athletes, but also the subsequent cover-up and/or support they receive from various institutions - I am glad not to be a big sports fan. I can't imagine living in a community that nearly shuts down on game day. These sports and the people who play them ought to be put into proper perspective.
And how interesting that Ken Starr has responded in this way. He played the paragon of virtue during the Clinton years. I guess his response to situations might depend upon where his own personal benefit might lie?
And how interesting that Ken Starr has responded in this way. He played the paragon of virtue during the Clinton years. I guess his response to situations might depend upon where his own personal benefit might lie?
17
The Baylor Athletics Chaplain -- a university employee -- knew what happened because the victim told him.
A Baylor psychologist -- another university employee -- knew what happened because the victim told her.
Yet the victim went on to be ignored by the university. Raped by a scholarship football player, she was diagnosed by PTSD, blown off by the chaplain, disbelieved by the student affairs administration, and left to fend for herself when she lost her scholarship.
The victim:
- went to the ER and got a rape kit showing she was raped
- reported the crime to the police
- told the Baylor-employed psychologist
- told the Baylor athletics chaplain
And BAYLOR. DID. NOTHING.
Except plant a Baylor civil lawyer in the audience to try and keep the Chaplain's knowledge of the rape from coming out to the public.
A Baylor psychologist -- another university employee -- knew what happened because the victim told her.
Yet the victim went on to be ignored by the university. Raped by a scholarship football player, she was diagnosed by PTSD, blown off by the chaplain, disbelieved by the student affairs administration, and left to fend for herself when she lost her scholarship.
The victim:
- went to the ER and got a rape kit showing she was raped
- reported the crime to the police
- told the Baylor-employed psychologist
- told the Baylor athletics chaplain
And BAYLOR. DID. NOTHING.
Except plant a Baylor civil lawyer in the audience to try and keep the Chaplain's knowledge of the rape from coming out to the public.
59
Horrifying cover up. Institutions must stop this protection of rapists if we are ever to reduce or eradicate rape.
Actually, it went to an administrative investigation, pursuant to standard University procedure. The administrator who ruled on it was a woman not part of the athletic department. The accused passed a lie detector test. The rape kit is police evidence which is is not authorized to give to private parties. She ruled for the accused.
The same Ken Starr who dogged Bill Clinton for something much much less than rape,?! And knowingly wasted my tax money publishing a lurid tale about presidential semen on an intern's blue dress?!!!! All because of politics of personality?!
America, how are we different from any other country we so often like to chastize as corrupt and barbarick?
America, how are we different from any other country we so often like to chastize as corrupt and barbarick?
23
mayelum - "The same Ken Starr who dogged Bill Clinton for something much much less than rape,?"
Change President of the USA to public school teacher then change intern to student and tell us it's much, much less than rape. When someone has "authority" over someone else it's rape. But we can always change history to fit a political agenda.
Change President of the USA to public school teacher then change intern to student and tell us it's much, much less than rape. When someone has "authority" over someone else it's rape. But we can always change history to fit a political agenda.
Let's not forget the judicial system which sentenced him to six months in jail and ten year's probation for a brutal rape. Talk about a faux sentence. How about ten years in prison?
22
As a native Texan, this disgusts me. For those of you not from around here, this is just the tip of the iceberg. If one were to investigate further into the corruption and cover ups of illegal and terrible behavior of football players and other athletes in Texas, it would shock the nation at what is tolerated down here.
30
Six months plus 10 years probation? The President and Athletic Department didn't know? Two years this has been going on? Starr certainly knows about hiring independent counsels to look into sexual accusations. Let us hope the counsel is as obsessive, as driven to bring down Baylor's president and athletic department as Starr was to do in Clinton. Oh, but wait a minute, who is it that is selecting and paying for counsel? Any way you look at this its 'Sick them Bears'....
21
Joe Nocera did his readers a disservice by not offering a further explanation in his column for the judge's sentencing of Sam Ukwuachu. Given that the jury recommended probation, there was only so much the judge could do under Texas law.
To find this out, you have to click on the hot links in this column and do that important research for yourself.
To find this out, you have to click on the hot links in this column and do that important research for yourself.
11
I'm sure there's a lot more horrible information that he had to leave out given the length of a column. What's your point - that the justice system is not protecting women through jury trials, aggressive defense lawyers that are hired to smear victims, and a culture that prioritizes men and boys, especially athletes, at any cost? If you think this rapist was actually not guilty, read the book Missoula by Jon Krakauer as part of your research.
1
While I am no fan of Ken Starr and his Starr report, the changes at Baylor University since his arrival are really impressive and go well beyond developing a good football team. He has used his connections to bring new programs to the campus, revitalized the faculty and beautified and opened up access to the campus along with building a stadium. The change for the good are obvious to anyone whatever their politics. The problem of football players, rape and cover ups of their behavior is widespread, and universally poorly handled.
2
Ukwuachu should transfer to a Catholic school and study for the priesthood.
2
And the institution would protect him there too.
"Lurid" Starr report on Bill Clinton? You must be kidding...that was when we finally heard the truth about Bubba and Monica
2
...and to this very day Monica has never complained about the conduct of Bill Clinton. She sought and actively consented to her affair with him. She was threatened with jail by Starr and his Inquisitors and only then reluctantly told of their conduct. Clinton was only criticized for lying about this personal failing and by all accounts, as well as the outcome, Starr's multi-million dollar inquisition went exactly nowhere, except letting Barb and her ilk peep at the personal sexual trifles of people she doesn't know. Nice work Ken.
2
The Man's In Heaven!
This is precisely how Baylor University president, Ken Starr, wants to be remembered ...
http://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/usatsi_8060203_168380427_lowr...
This is precisely how Baylor University president, Ken Starr, wants to be remembered ...
http://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/usatsi_8060203_168380427_lowr...
3
Are you sure that the Baylor spokeswoman isn't saying, "Sick, them Bears!"?
I expected to see that the football player's depression was caused by repeated concussions. It would have completed the circle.
And what delicious double irony: Ken Starr, the Grand Inquisitor of The Order of the Blue Dress, sweeping violent sex crimes under the football turf and a Baptist College excusing lust on the basis of football. If only Pres. Clinton had played football...
I expected to see that the football player's depression was caused by repeated concussions. It would have completed the circle.
And what delicious double irony: Ken Starr, the Grand Inquisitor of The Order of the Blue Dress, sweeping violent sex crimes under the football turf and a Baptist College excusing lust on the basis of football. If only Pres. Clinton had played football...
11
If there's hypocrisy in this moral/legal/Starr amalgam, toss into the mix that Baylor is a Baptist university that only a few years ago housed proponents of Intelligent Design.
The merry mix of Christian dogma, education (sensu stricto), football (don't forget Mammon), and the justification thereof, subverts the very idea of a university, although I doubt that is much of a bother in such as Waco.
The merry mix of Christian dogma, education (sensu stricto), football (don't forget Mammon), and the justification thereof, subverts the very idea of a university, although I doubt that is much of a bother in such as Waco.
12
When I attended Baylor in the mid-1970s, it was an excellent academic institution. Standards were high, classes rigorous and teaching staff was the best of the best. Then came the purge. In 1980, conservatives came to power. The Southern Baptist Convention turned into something out of the Dark Ages. Any professor or staff considered 'liberal' was purged and the university went dark. Football has always been worshiped and Texas. Football players have always been gods. And the depths of depravity held in conservative religion has always been a dark not-so-secret.
3
This is way off the mark. Baylor is castigated by Baptists all over Texas and the South for being "liberal." Personally, I learned about evolution really for the first time at Baylor in 1993. Since the 1990s Baylor has become a leading national university in both research and education. My school, the School of Engineering and Computer Science has a top 10 rank. Other Baylor schools have similar rankings. Your gross oversimplification only indicates your own lack of rigor and deeply held biases.
It’s not about Ken Starr or Baptist hypocrisy. It’s not even about football. It’s about consequences. We have a culture in which consequences are attenuated from violations. Vigorous lawyering shields the wealthy. Pleas of poverty shield the poor. Athletes get a pass, as do celebrities.
People are inherently greedy egotists. We are wired by biology to want more of anything that satisfies: sex, money, power, food, drugs and so on. Good upbringing develops self control. Absent self control society imposes consequences to maintain social control. Social pressure to conform has worked for millennia, but has broken down over the last half century. The current prevailing ethos is If It Feels Good Do It. This, of course, is not limited to linebackers, viz. Miley Cyrus. In the absence of good upbringing and social control, and with the prevailing failure of legal consequences, our society is understandably in rapid decline.
People are inherently greedy egotists. We are wired by biology to want more of anything that satisfies: sex, money, power, food, drugs and so on. Good upbringing develops self control. Absent self control society imposes consequences to maintain social control. Social pressure to conform has worked for millennia, but has broken down over the last half century. The current prevailing ethos is If It Feels Good Do It. This, of course, is not limited to linebackers, viz. Miley Cyrus. In the absence of good upbringing and social control, and with the prevailing failure of legal consequences, our society is understandably in rapid decline.
8
Pleas of poverty shield the poor? Do you really think that being poor reduces your chances of being arrested, prosecuted, and convicted of a crime? Do you think being poor results in receiving shorter prison sentences once convicted? Do you think that poor people get better legal representation than wealthy people?
1
I would argue that Ken Starr's selection as president of Baylor University is a prime example of the degeneration of higher education in the United States. You could also point to Georgetown's selection of George Tenent and Douglas Feith. Most especially you could point to Stanford University's selection of Condolezza Rice as a professor there. If the idea of a university is the independent search for truth just how do the University presidents, chancellors and boards of trustees justify these people at their universities?
47
Agree about Ken Starr and Feith.
But I think you're wrong about Ms Rice. Condi Rice was a professor at Stanford before her stint in GWB's administration. She also served with distinction in GHB's administration. By all accounts, she was and is an outstanding scholar and an expert on Russian geo-politics and culture.
No question that GWB's administration was completely wrong about their war of ambition on Iraq and Ms Rice, like Mr Powell, sullied their otherwise sterling reputations in that affair. But I'd take Ms Rice and Mr Powell anyday over the likes of Ken Starr.
But I think you're wrong about Ms Rice. Condi Rice was a professor at Stanford before her stint in GWB's administration. She also served with distinction in GHB's administration. By all accounts, she was and is an outstanding scholar and an expert on Russian geo-politics and culture.
No question that GWB's administration was completely wrong about their war of ambition on Iraq and Ms Rice, like Mr Powell, sullied their otherwise sterling reputations in that affair. But I'd take Ms Rice and Mr Powell anyday over the likes of Ken Starr.
1
Condolezza Rice was a professor at Stanford before she became Sec. of State. If she had tenure then Stanford may have been obliged to take her back.
The same way Bill Ayers is justified at the U of Chicago and many other radical faculty at some universities. It's called diversity and avoiding intellectual hegemony.
So many of the comments correctly cite the outrageous record of corruption by Athlete Departments and over so many years.
I have lost all respect for our so called Universities. Maybe that's too harsh a judgement--throwing out the baby...but throw the cozy connections with business at the expense of the common good, the ridiculous costs of a college education, what's left to cheer about.
Minnesota's recent debacle with its Athletic Director and his 'proclivities' both here and his previous employer U of Va, following the state of Minnesota' s literal capture by professional sports (ha). We, taxpayers, have just completed an orgy of self immolation in building stadiums for the psychopaths and sociopaths that actually own all these teams.
Minn. Wild, Timberwolves, Vikings, Twins, and the Gophers--football, basketball, and hockey. Disgusting
I have lost all respect for our so called Universities. Maybe that's too harsh a judgement--throwing out the baby...but throw the cozy connections with business at the expense of the common good, the ridiculous costs of a college education, what's left to cheer about.
Minnesota's recent debacle with its Athletic Director and his 'proclivities' both here and his previous employer U of Va, following the state of Minnesota' s literal capture by professional sports (ha). We, taxpayers, have just completed an orgy of self immolation in building stadiums for the psychopaths and sociopaths that actually own all these teams.
Minn. Wild, Timberwolves, Vikings, Twins, and the Gophers--football, basketball, and hockey. Disgusting
12
Add to this, Illinois' football coach, who not only was a lousy coach, but forced his athletes to play with serious injuries.
One again, we see that the criminal justice system is much more able to handle these problems than college disciplinary procedures. Accordingly, in dealing with rape accusations, colleges should report all allegations to prosecutors and police, and follow their lead. If an indictment is issued, the school should temporarily suspend the enrollment of the accused pending the trial. If the accused is found guilty, the school should expel him. If the criminal justice system refuses to prosecute, the school should treat him as innocent.
3
Basically what happened here. But that doesn't meet the left's agenda.
Ken Starr and the staff at Baylor have no moral compass - just a GPS set for their bank.
7
Ken Starr. Tearing the nation apart over a consensual affair, caught in a cover-up of violent rape. But he's help leading the charge against the misuse of the university system by encouraging higher education and free thought, while empowering it's God given purpose of glorifying the spectacle of young men beating their brains out.
7
Again, Starr's comments further the notion that athletes can not be responsible for themselves- they must have a "full-time official" who will help them NOT rape women.
Until the Schools institute a one strike rule and adhere to it- young men, who believe they are invincible- will not learn.
Everyone makes mistakes and deserves second chances- but raping someone- isn't a mistake, its a crime and it deserves jail time.
Until the Schools institute a one strike rule and adhere to it- young men, who believe they are invincible- will not learn.
Everyone makes mistakes and deserves second chances- but raping someone- isn't a mistake, its a crime and it deserves jail time.
9
Excellent point! Rape is not a mistake.
1
You wouldn't know that SC colleges like Clemson even had academic programs. News coverage of football, basketball, soccer and baseball outweighs academic coverage by 100 to 1.
6
Baylor part of the Southern Baptist Convention which Jimmy Carter left because of their stance on women. Of course if it had been a boy, different story.
3
Liberals foam at the mouth whenever a minority is the supposed "victim" of a Johnny Cochranesque "rush to judgment" when accused of a crime....except apparently when the "victim" is a football player, a sport that the left would love to legislate out of existence tomorrow, and the President of the university is evil incarnate himself Ken Starr (pronounce "Ken Starr" in a James Carville southern accented sneer).
3
Hmmm, I thought he was convicted, not just accused. But I might have had my vision obscured by the foam coming from my mouth.
3
I am liberal, repulsed by the fact that the football player is not spending a long, well deserved, spell in jail. I am also repulsed that Ken Starr seems to think that Clinton's consensual sex with Monica is a much more serious offense than rape committed by one of his football players.
4
To Jordan
Why bring Liberal or Conservatives into the discussion? This is about the privilege of the Football players and the blindness of their coaches. You had one in Florida last year, remember? (oh I forgot it was the girl's fault) Now it is a Christian School Baylor that is doing the same thing. Football players are not superior because they play football. They are only superior when their academics are equal to their skill at playing a sport. Golf holds their athletes to a higher authority, why not football?
Why bring Liberal or Conservatives into the discussion? This is about the privilege of the Football players and the blindness of their coaches. You had one in Florida last year, remember? (oh I forgot it was the girl's fault) Now it is a Christian School Baylor that is doing the same thing. Football players are not superior because they play football. They are only superior when their academics are equal to their skill at playing a sport. Golf holds their athletes to a higher authority, why not football?
I am not much of a football fan but I would love to go to a game w Joe Nocera for his commentary if nothing else. However, if what is described in this column is all that is known fact, then he is possibly being unfair to both Baylor and Starr. Furthermore, how universities select athletes, or any other students, out of high school with complete assurance of their future behavior is beyond realistic.
3
What's even worse is that the jury who found Ukwuachu guilty of rape sentenced him to probation. Probation! The judge imposed the jail term.
19
It's time to ban football at every level. The "game" serves no purpose except to enrich the university and the NFL. Why don't we issue gladiator weapons? Why go through the charade of playing a "game"? Why worry about concussions or other injuries just to make a buck?
15
I cant believe I had to scroll down through five or six posts before I came to the "just ban football" post. Big time college football has led to the corruption of values at too many colleges and universities. But, the case of Sam Ukwuachu is not about the game of football. It is about a tragic act of violence and the corruption of higher education by money. The truth is that rape on college campuses is far too common and, while most of those assaults are not carried out by members of the football team, many universities try to cover up the fact that they happen at all. Whether the guilty young man is a student athlete or not too many colleges try to sweep rape allegations under the rug so that prospective students dont shy away from applying and paying tuition, room and board, and other fees. That Baylor should have taken away Ukwauchu's scholarship and kicked him out of school is without question. That money and football impacted their decision is obvious. But banning football isnt the answer. All colleges and universities should be doing more to educate all their students about sexual assault -- what it is, how to avoid it, and how to seek help if it happens, etc -- and be more transparent with parents and students about incidents that occur on campus and that involve students.
38
The "oversight" could be even worse that Nocera could imagine. When she was helping Baylor's women's basketball team to multiple Final Fours, Brittney Griner revealed to coach Kim Mulkey that she was gay. Mulkey ordered her to stay closeted. To reveal her orientation would lead to her expulsion...and Mulkey not being as successful as a coach.
It's not only Ken Starr's brazen hypocrisy, but the player got off with a slap on the wrist for what he was actually convicted of.
Just more on the irredeemable nature of big time sports. This "student-athlete" represented a clear and present danger to every woman on campus. Leading an entirely unwelcome second, and real, meaning to "sic 'em Bears."
It's not only Ken Starr's brazen hypocrisy, but the player got off with a slap on the wrist for what he was actually convicted of.
Just more on the irredeemable nature of big time sports. This "student-athlete" represented a clear and present danger to every woman on campus. Leading an entirely unwelcome second, and real, meaning to "sic 'em Bears."
21
Remember, this is the Ken Starr who claimed to be astride a moral high horse when it was headed in the political direction he preferred -- getting Clinton out of office. He clearly headed for the low road when such a moral stance might damage his popular football team. How can a person of such hypocrisy be in charge of an institution that is molding the minds of young people?
31
Ken Starr's greatest gift has always been his smug self satisfaction. Thank you for this moment of clarity.
19
Do you mean to tell me that you are surprised that, at a Baptist university with a president who spent years pursuing Clinton's little sexual peccadillos and in a city known for its ardent Christian citizens and churches, hypocrisy about sexual violence prevails?
271
And the powers that be analyze the guy- he has some kind of depressive disorder. Yeah, he gets depressed when he can't rape and beat on people. The program at Boise State managed to handle everything confidentially so the thug could get to another football program, keeping in mind the overriding importance of his surfeit of fast twitch muscle fibers and his 40 yard dash time So he gets in a situation where he frustrated, or whatever he was, and he rapes a virgin at his new (Baptist) school. Not to worry- Ken Starr is on the case and until they figure out what a bleeding vagina might mean, he's at least able to work out and keep conditioned, in case this problem goes away and the coach can play him. I hope his parents sue. I hope they get a blood thirsty lawyer who gets Starr on the stand- make him sorry he was ever chasing around after a blue dress.
6
We're fools if we expect Universities (or churches, scouts organizations) to mop up what law enforcement and the Texas justice system will not. When a Texas Jury will recommend only probation to a convicted rapist, it's a sign that no woman is safe or respected in that state. Period.
Ladies, leave quickly. Turn Baylor into an all-male school by transferring out right now. Indeed, turn the entire State of Texas into a lonely boy's club.
It is the State of Texas that failed here. Starr is a tool, the coach is no better. But thousands of victims aren't college students and their attackers aren't football players. If the State of Texas wants to coddle such vile individuals with short sentences & probation, the wisest course of action is to leave.
Ladies, leave quickly. Turn Baylor into an all-male school by transferring out right now. Indeed, turn the entire State of Texas into a lonely boy's club.
It is the State of Texas that failed here. Starr is a tool, the coach is no better. But thousands of victims aren't college students and their attackers aren't football players. If the State of Texas wants to coddle such vile individuals with short sentences & probation, the wisest course of action is to leave.
17
"Ken Starr was as complicit in the two-year-long silence as anybody in the Baylor athletic department, . . . ."
It has been reported that Ken Starr's politically motivated investigation of President Clinton's alleged romantic dalliances was done at taxpayer expense, which totaled at least $100 million.
It has been reported that Ken Starr's politically motivated investigation of President Clinton's alleged romantic dalliances was done at taxpayer expense, which totaled at least $100 million.
18
No defense of Mr. Ukwuachu, but what about Boise State's disgraceful behavior of cutting him from the team three days after being diagnosed with major depression. Where was their compassion, their support of the person. Players better realize that they are but a piece of meat, being used by large "educational" institutions, with no quid pro quo.
6
As a Baylor alumnus, I am ashamed of the way my alma mater has handled this matter. When Grant Teaff was head coach, he recruited men of character, e.g., Mike Singletary. Unfortunately, it seems that the current "powers that be" are willing to pay their "thirty pieces of silver" for football glory. I knew former football players at Baylor who were men of character. It's a shame that a school that cites its "Christian ideals" falls short of exhibiting them too often.
7
I didn't know Ken Starr had many of the same characteristics as current Army commanders . Starr would fit right in with the current doctrine of military sexual assault . Sexual assault requires judicial oversight and medical oversight not rulings by university presidents or army officers.
7
I agree with Joe. Unfortunately, the same comments apply to every college in this country with an athletic program. It also applies to every high school. Only a fool would thing that this type conduct only began in college.
7
Divorce college athletics from colleges...emulate U of Chicago and other places where education is the goal, not the party-ing, outrageous salaries for coaches, special care for players, particularly football players who add to the mixed messages of the goals of institutions of higher ed. Come on. And in Baylor's case, the hypocrisy seems particularly placed w/their insistence on the Christian part of their mission. Ken Starr at the helm, a coach who is all about the game as is his goal, and the clamoring of those who just want to be entertained. How much does this cost taxpayers? How much adds to the distance between the meaning of college? The cost of the stadium to taxpayers? The glory to McClain, or whatever his name is...A quarter of a billion bucks? What's going on? Good grief.
14
Football is an actual game played on the field but a fantasy game by the fans who support it. If the woman who answers "Sic 'em bears" ever suited up for and played for a quarter she would sing a different tune.
They, the fanatics, live in a world so separated from the reality that they might as well reside in a different universe.
Mr. Ukwuachu apparently suffers from some real mental problems which should have been addressed long ago, but like most who likely suffered abuse as children he was passed on through an accepted line by those who refuse to acknowledge that aspect of our too often dysfunctional male society.
Football is a fun game that I played and enjoyed as a kid. The physical activity is great for growing bodies and like all team sports brings us together. It is when the brutality of violent physical contact is introduced and followed as an integral part of the outcome that the separation between a game and a war of attrition begins.
We don't have to behave this way but until we actually begin tom accept the truth of our existence and understand the mythologies supporting our culture we will worship at this altar of 'sport" and can only accept there will be more human sacrifices offered every year.
They, the fanatics, live in a world so separated from the reality that they might as well reside in a different universe.
Mr. Ukwuachu apparently suffers from some real mental problems which should have been addressed long ago, but like most who likely suffered abuse as children he was passed on through an accepted line by those who refuse to acknowledge that aspect of our too often dysfunctional male society.
Football is a fun game that I played and enjoyed as a kid. The physical activity is great for growing bodies and like all team sports brings us together. It is when the brutality of violent physical contact is introduced and followed as an integral part of the outcome that the separation between a game and a war of attrition begins.
We don't have to behave this way but until we actually begin tom accept the truth of our existence and understand the mythologies supporting our culture we will worship at this altar of 'sport" and can only accept there will be more human sacrifices offered every year.
12
Presumably the student-athlete coordinator could: 1. Review all data about players and recruits, 2. Make recommendations to school administrators, 3. refer athletes to counseling when it seems like a good idea, 4. coordinate workshops for athletes on mental health and substance abuse issues.
I think it's a great idea.
I think it's a great idea.
2
You are assuming that relevant data is there to be reviewed and that administrators will act in good faith.
7
Actually this position will be used as a fall guy so that Briles can continue recruiting thugs to his program
1
It might be except for the fact that the individual's salary and benefits and performance reviews would be in play if the football program is seen as threatened in any way.
Six months in jail for an open and shut case of rape? That seems light treatment to me. Are you sure the judge was not a Baylor football team booster?
86
The jury recommended only probation. The judge imposed a more severe penalty. However, the sentence still seems light. There must have been something in the testimony that we don't know about.
7
I think we know, all right.
2
Art Briles, the Baylor head coach will make $4 million a year through 2023. He will not lose his job because he brought a player on campus who committed this reprehensible act, but he could lose his job if he can't procure enough players like Sam Ukwuachu to keep his program competitive. Until there is off the field and in class accountability for college coaches proportionate to the rewards they share in there will continue to be cases like this. Someone in the athletic establishment at Baylor should have done due diligence before Ukwuachu came to campus but this was not the case and nobody from the top down is being held accountable. Without accountability we are left to assume major college sports programs accept what happened to all the "Jane Does" as collateral damage.
72
We don't hold college presidents or professors responsible for the off-campus conduct of their students. College students commit mass murders, but no professors or admission officers lose their jobs, even when the shootings take place on campus. Why should we hold football coaches responsible for the off-campus behavior of players?
6
You missed the entire part of the story about the victim being minimized and eventually pushed out of Baylor.
119
Is this the state of NCAA Division 1 football? This 'student' athlete is a hired gun castaway from another major program. Yet as a member of the team he has protection from misdeeds. This commentary gives new meaning to the term student athlete
14
The Waco Police Department investigated the rape and turned the evidence it collected over to the district attorney’s office, which in June 2014 indicted Sam Ukwuachu on two counts of sexual assault.
Baylor reacted to the indictment by suspending Ukwuachu for the 2014 football season. In August, Ukwuachu was convicted and sentenced to 180 days in county jail, 10 years of felony probation and 400 hours of community service. Isn’t this the way the criminal justice system is supposed to work? Why should Baylor have conducted a separate investigation and trial? Colleges permit students with criminal records—including murder convictions—to enroll. Why should football players be treated differently? Why should colleges be involved in criminal investigations unless the crime occurred on campus? If Ukwuachu had murdered the victim instead of raping her, Baylor would not have been expected to conduct a murder investigation and trial.
Baylor reacted to the indictment by suspending Ukwuachu for the 2014 football season. In August, Ukwuachu was convicted and sentenced to 180 days in county jail, 10 years of felony probation and 400 hours of community service. Isn’t this the way the criminal justice system is supposed to work? Why should Baylor have conducted a separate investigation and trial? Colleges permit students with criminal records—including murder convictions—to enroll. Why should football players be treated differently? Why should colleges be involved in criminal investigations unless the crime occurred on campus? If Ukwuachu had murdered the victim instead of raping her, Baylor would not have been expected to conduct a murder investigation and trial.
10
I agree that the police and courts are the proper agencies to be conducting a criminal investigation, not a university. So I have recommended this comment.
That said, once the university learned of the charges it had a responsibility to rearrange circumstances so that Jane Doe could remain on campus; that did not happen. The delay, not abnormal in our present criminal justice system even when the facts of a case are pretty straightforward, between the crime and the trial cannot have helped her to stay there either. Justice delayed is justice denied seems an apt description of this case.
Also, the jail sentence appears exceptionally light and I do not understand the rationale behind sentencing a rapist to do community service.
That said, once the university learned of the charges it had a responsibility to rearrange circumstances so that Jane Doe could remain on campus; that did not happen. The delay, not abnormal in our present criminal justice system even when the facts of a case are pretty straightforward, between the crime and the trial cannot have helped her to stay there either. Justice delayed is justice denied seems an apt description of this case.
Also, the jail sentence appears exceptionally light and I do not understand the rationale behind sentencing a rapist to do community service.
32
Nice try lawyer. The player was allowed to stay on campus after the indictment. The victim was forced to sit in the same class as the rapist. The victims scholarship was reduced while the rapist was able to graduate.
10
"Dallas Morning News reported that Baylor reduced the rape victim's soccer scholarship after she reported the rape…."
Here's a thought, stop punishing the victims.
Along with the sentence handed down, there are clearly parts of Texas not worthy of the phrase "civilized world."
Here's a thought, stop punishing the victims.
Along with the sentence handed down, there are clearly parts of Texas not worthy of the phrase "civilized world."
4
As long as college football and basketball remain big money spots, these stories will continue to pop up. Coaches getting paid 6 million while University president gets 300K. Student-Athletes?? are used and abused, then discarded. If you don't make the NFL or NBA you're back, in a lot of cases, to the inner city ghetto, often with no education. Fans and boosters are partly to blame; their continued support of the team gives cover to the administration.
9
So, consensual sexual activity, or more precisely lying about it, is sufficient grounds to impeach a President, according to Special Prosecutor Ken Starr.
But a violent rape by a football player is knowingly tolerated by University President Ken Starr.
But a violent rape by a football player is knowingly tolerated by University President Ken Starr.
570
What are you talking about? Baylor suspended the player and let the judicial process work!
5
Knowingly tolerated? A bit of a stretch isn't it?
The athlete passed a lie detector case. The athlete went through normal disciplinary proceedings and the ruling was in his favor. Starr had no obligation or right to intervene.
Just going out a little on the limb and saying, there's a lot more to this alleged rape than we can read here, wouldn't you agree? Six months for sexual assault? It must have been some much lesser degree than rape or is this just Texas law?
5
Texas law as it applies to "valuable" football players. My best guess is we will see Ukwuachu's name in more than the sports section again.
This is the same Baylor University where one of the basketball players killed another player and the former basketball coach (Dave Bliss) tried to cover it up by getting everyone to say the deceased player was a drug dealer that must have gotten into a bad situation. This effort was to make the story go away and to cover up that Bliss had been paying the players.
This was before Starr's tenure but it does not reflect well on the status that athletics has at the university.
This was before Starr's tenure but it does not reflect well on the status that athletics has at the university.
9
The question is, what did Ken Starr know, and when did he know it? What role did his office play in concealing from the public the nature of the "issues" confronting the perpetrator? What was his involvement in the process that led to the university concluding that the rapist had done nothing wrong? Isn't it in the interest of the university, and consistent with its Christian values, that there be a full confession and disclosure of the truth? It's time for the appointment of a special investigator.
24
Any university that hires a prurient fool like Ken Starr for a job beyond the landscape crew (and I apologize for being unkind to the landscape crew) is no place I would send my child to get an education.
Kenn Starr deserves every bit of the disgust this piece garners, but he had a partner in his willingness to shelter a very troubled football player -- Coach Art Briles. These 2 think they should be commended for keeping a RAPIST on the team bench but off the field. Contrast this with a nearby university, just down I-35, also known for its over-devotion to almighty football. Last year, as new head coach at The University of Texas, Charlie Strong came in & cleaned house, suspending or dismissing several players for failure to follow his rules & for assault charges. Maybe Coach Strong could go up to Waco & teach them his core values, 1 of which is respect for women. Of course, Texas, unlike Baylor, had a lousy season last year. Let's see how long virtue, ethics & respect for women hold on in the face of another losing season.
37
While Sam Ukwuachu is no Jerry Sandusky, Baylor University administrators and the football program should pay a severe price for trying to excuse and cover-up his crime.
The only question that I have is the knowledge that Ukwuachu had a mental health history diagnosis of major depressive disorder including being suicidal and a history of domestic abuse. What, if anything, did Baylor officials know about his mental health and when did they know it? Could proper treatment for his diagnosed mental health problem have prevented this rape? Was he being treated? Is he being treated now? Was his mental health an issue at his rape trial?
The only question that I have is the knowledge that Ukwuachu had a mental health history diagnosis of major depressive disorder including being suicidal and a history of domestic abuse. What, if anything, did Baylor officials know about his mental health and when did they know it? Could proper treatment for his diagnosed mental health problem have prevented this rape? Was he being treated? Is he being treated now? Was his mental health an issue at his rape trial?
5
Six months for rape? Seriously? Is the judge also considering delaying incarceration until after football season so the guy can play for Baylor? Let's hope Jane Doe sues both Baylor and Boise State; sic 'em Jane!
377
Pretty lame 6 month sentence. I see it could have been 20 years maximum. He got off easy. I thought Texas was tough on criminals.
EVERYBODY JUMP ON THE OUTRAGE BANDWAGON!!! (Actually, don't do that)
Can we remember for a moment that in America we have civil rights (e.g. jury trials)? Should we expect a university to expel a student based on an accusation and immediately destroy him or her in the press? Since a university is not a court of law, it's more appropriate that they stay out of criminal matters, and the press surrounding them.
To use Nocera's own words, Baylor 'appears to have “sheltered” a “perpetrator,” to use Starr’s own words,' which is to say that there is no evidence that Starr or Baylor said anything of the sort, but I (Nocera) am here to imply that they did. Quite obviously, a university official did reference an athletic chant in her voicemail, and therefore everybody is guilty. And also Ken Starr is a big fat liar.
Or maybe none of this has any bearing on a current criminal investigation?
If Ukwuachu, or any other person, is convicted of a crime, he or she should go to prison. Any person not convicted of a crime should be free to live his or her life. Anyone awaiting trial should remain so, and the press should stay out of it.
(Dang, I forgot to consider the last paragraph, 'shouldn’t the real issue be who the school admits in the first place'. Definitely, anybody who's ever been accused of anything has no place in post-secondary education.)
Can we remember for a moment that in America we have civil rights (e.g. jury trials)? Should we expect a university to expel a student based on an accusation and immediately destroy him or her in the press? Since a university is not a court of law, it's more appropriate that they stay out of criminal matters, and the press surrounding them.
To use Nocera's own words, Baylor 'appears to have “sheltered” a “perpetrator,” to use Starr’s own words,' which is to say that there is no evidence that Starr or Baylor said anything of the sort, but I (Nocera) am here to imply that they did. Quite obviously, a university official did reference an athletic chant in her voicemail, and therefore everybody is guilty. And also Ken Starr is a big fat liar.
Or maybe none of this has any bearing on a current criminal investigation?
If Ukwuachu, or any other person, is convicted of a crime, he or she should go to prison. Any person not convicted of a crime should be free to live his or her life. Anyone awaiting trial should remain so, and the press should stay out of it.
(Dang, I forgot to consider the last paragraph, 'shouldn’t the real issue be who the school admits in the first place'. Definitely, anybody who's ever been accused of anything has no place in post-secondary education.)
7
Divorce big-time football from college, and make it into the minor/semi-pro league it is. Colleges should focus on what should be their core mission--higher education--undistracted from the corrupting power of big-time football. (If the culture of any other college sport threatens academic sanctity, it too should be spun off.)
12
Baylor is a disgrace and as a religious based institution, the current epicenter of Christian hypocrisy. Coach Art Briles denies conversation with U's coach at ASU without a clue of the irony that the greater sin is not to have initiated such a call. This is the sort of football on Saturday, replete with interminable "Oh, Lord..." invocation, Sunday suit and tie to church followed by lunch at Luby's that serves as jet fuel to liberal characterization of Texans and southerners as fools.
10
This isn't the first time Baylor has had problems with their athletes. Remember several years ago, their basketball program, under Coach Dave Bliss had a teammate, Patrick Dennehy, murdered by fellow player Carlton Dotson. Coach Bliss resigned after a NCAA investigation found players were using drugs and alcohol. Coach Bliss had paid for Dennehy"s transfer and tuition, all against NCAA rules.
5
This narrative is getting so old, but never stops. What is always interesting is the behavior of the presidents of these universities --- the sports tail at these universities will always wag whoever sits in the presidential suite. Still admire the University of Chicago, whose administration long ago decided no to football and yes to education.
26
The University of Chicago reinstated varsity football in 1969.
Isn't it time to question universities that promote a sport that is known to cause brain injuries, along with this tolerance for violent behavior?
4
Aside from the obvious hypocrisy and mishandling by Baylor and Ken Starr, how on earth does someone who was convicted of this kind of sexual assault get sentenced to only six months in jail?? Who was the judge in this case and does that judge have ties to Baylor or Starr? Ukwuachu is a violent felon who has now gotten a very light sentence for a violent rape. I doubt this will be his last.
26
The Texas Monthly story is a must-read; a fish rots from the head down, and either Ken Starr or Baylor's athletic director (both ?) should be replaced, with no contract buy-outs since their termination would be ' for cause '.
Of course, nothing of the sort will happen, underlining in caps who Ken Starr has always been :)
Of course, nothing of the sort will happen, underlining in caps who Ken Starr has always been :)
22
How is six months for such a vicious (both physically and emotionally) crime appropriate? Hopefully, the probation includes strictly required counseling and rehabilitation for only a depraved person could do such a thing. He needs help.
Hopefully, Jane Doe (yet another) can find peace and the strength to be happy.
Hopefully, Jane Doe (yet another) can find peace and the strength to be happy.
14
I think some of the bitterness being directed at Baylor in this case has more to do with a dislike for Starr (which I share) and the liberal tendency to gleefully point out what they feel are Christian hypocrisies (something I find more difficult, as an ex-evangelical).
The outrage might better be directed at college football culture in general. The anecdotal stuff like the repeated bad behavior by Florida Sate's most famous recent alum jump out at you, but what's really alarming are the statistics on how many arrests there have been in many of the major football programs over the past decade. Baylor's taking the heat, as it should, but there are many, many schools with much worse rap sheets over the past decade.
This isn't just about Starr or Baylor or not living up to Christian ideals, it's a broad problem with the country loving sports, regardless of the costs.
The outrage might better be directed at college football culture in general. The anecdotal stuff like the repeated bad behavior by Florida Sate's most famous recent alum jump out at you, but what's really alarming are the statistics on how many arrests there have been in many of the major football programs over the past decade. Baylor's taking the heat, as it should, but there are many, many schools with much worse rap sheets over the past decade.
This isn't just about Starr or Baylor or not living up to Christian ideals, it's a broad problem with the country loving sports, regardless of the costs.
21
It is interesting that when it is a football player, the process works its way through the normal legal process. When it is a non athlete, there are many stories how you are in a system outside the normal legal process, and are presumed guilty. I suspect many college presidents would love to get rid of football, but the alumni want it, so they do not. Head injuries may end football, at least at the division three level. But there will always be other sports where athletes get special treatment.
5
Long ago the NCAA and its member schools surrendered any high ground they may have occupied in keeping a sane perspective on the role of college athletics in the life of an otherwise academic centered institution. Sure, there are examples, even at the highest levels, of good, solid programs that affirm the mission of the school and complement the "education" of the students involved. Baylor is yet one more example of circling the wagons to "protect" a prime commodity, a potentially key piece in a winning season, a prime player. The real problem is we keep buying tickets. Till that stops you can preach all you want, but nothing is going to change. And Ken Starr, a university president, seriously?
83
Circling the wagoner? Baylor didn't play the guy, they judicial praccess played out and he went to jail. What was Baylor supposed to do? Publicly denounce the player that is being indicted? There is such thing as innocent until proven guilty or don't you all care about that? After the guilty verdict Baylor takes the first opportunity to announce its position and policy and hires and outside council to strengthen student protections. NO cover -up, NO denials of some weaknesses in the system. That is why Joe's column is so frustrating. It is innuendo and assumptions about Baylor's motivations with no real evidence. You all pile on like lemmings.
1
The player continued to practice with the team Just last week the Defensive coach (Bennett) was quoted that he expected this player to play. Baylor knew this guy had issues before he came to campus. They kept their fingers crossed that the jury would find him innocent even though there was a rape kit and the evidence was overwhelming. You are another Baylor homer who is in denial.
1
So many questions. So few answers. Was Baylor aware of Ukwuachu's "violently abusive behavior" at Boise State? If not, why not? Was the player accepted at Baylor with Baylor officials knowing of his past behavior?
Where are the values of the coaches and administrators who are more interested in football victories than the quality, safety and education of the student body? How many football players are actually academically qualified for college study?
Values today in higher education? It appears football at so many institutions takes precedence over education. The Ivy League has put football in its proper place. Yes, it's played but a restrictive schedule, no bowl games, no athletic scholarships and, now, in the wake of the concussion crisis, a limit on contact practices. And the athletes must be top students.
Many justify big-time college football because of the revenue generated. But studies indicate only 22 of the 120 top-tier football programs break even or make a profit and 82% of the teams (FBS) "take money from the university's budget." See, "The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football" written in 2013.
When will big-time college football universities wake-up and realize their core mission? Education. Not college football titles. Way past time for college boards of trustees and top administrators to finally chart a much different course.
Where are the values of the coaches and administrators who are more interested in football victories than the quality, safety and education of the student body? How many football players are actually academically qualified for college study?
Values today in higher education? It appears football at so many institutions takes precedence over education. The Ivy League has put football in its proper place. Yes, it's played but a restrictive schedule, no bowl games, no athletic scholarships and, now, in the wake of the concussion crisis, a limit on contact practices. And the athletes must be top students.
Many justify big-time college football because of the revenue generated. But studies indicate only 22 of the 120 top-tier football programs break even or make a profit and 82% of the teams (FBS) "take money from the university's budget." See, "The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football" written in 2013.
When will big-time college football universities wake-up and realize their core mission? Education. Not college football titles. Way past time for college boards of trustees and top administrators to finally chart a much different course.
10
Let's cut to the chase: eliminate public university football!
Poof, gone, ended.
A quarter of a billion dollars to create a colosseum for padded gladiators! (yes, I know Baylor is a private University, but public institutions are no less extravagant)
If private colleges wish to squander resources and reason on this insanity, live it up, but taxpayers cannot be required to subsidize this indulgence for the entertainment of the feeble minded and the easily amused.
In dozens of states the second highest paid public official, after the governor, is the state university football coach.
And you wonder why we are graduating a generation of illiterates?
And at what cost?
Thousands of "students" leaving these sacred halls of ivy with an education in organized mayhem, a propensity for violence and no possible, salable skills outside of professional football in which an infinitesimal minority succeed.
Robert Maynard Hutchins, after eliminating football at the University of Chicago, quoted Elbert Hubbard, "College football is a sport that bears the same relation to education that bullfighting does to agriculture".
That was more than half a century ago, before college football became the megalithic monstrosity that now graces our institutions of "higher learning".
Then, again, does this nation deserve any better?
Ponder and repent.
Poof, gone, ended.
A quarter of a billion dollars to create a colosseum for padded gladiators! (yes, I know Baylor is a private University, but public institutions are no less extravagant)
If private colleges wish to squander resources and reason on this insanity, live it up, but taxpayers cannot be required to subsidize this indulgence for the entertainment of the feeble minded and the easily amused.
In dozens of states the second highest paid public official, after the governor, is the state university football coach.
And you wonder why we are graduating a generation of illiterates?
And at what cost?
Thousands of "students" leaving these sacred halls of ivy with an education in organized mayhem, a propensity for violence and no possible, salable skills outside of professional football in which an infinitesimal minority succeed.
Robert Maynard Hutchins, after eliminating football at the University of Chicago, quoted Elbert Hubbard, "College football is a sport that bears the same relation to education that bullfighting does to agriculture".
That was more than half a century ago, before college football became the megalithic monstrosity that now graces our institutions of "higher learning".
Then, again, does this nation deserve any better?
Ponder and repent.
27
actually, in many states the football coach makes more than the governor..
"In dozens of states the second highest paid public official, after the governor, is the state university football coach."
Are you kidding me? At UGA the head football coach makes at least 20 times the salary of our governor, and this is true in most states. In fact, I wonder if there is ANY state where the governor makes anything near what the higher paid football coaches do. It's absurd, but that's college football.
Are you kidding me? At UGA the head football coach makes at least 20 times the salary of our governor, and this is true in most states. In fact, I wonder if there is ANY state where the governor makes anything near what the higher paid football coaches do. It's absurd, but that's college football.
Exactly right, except in many states the head football coach(es), and many assistant football coaches, make WAY more than the governor or the university president.
2
The "war on Christianity" is aided and abetted by such "Christians" as these. But, go ahead, worship football. Your god is a myth anyway.
16
A conservative Christian guilty of duplicity? And Baptists ignoring the Bible's teachings in favor of football?? Land's sake, what is this world coming to?
100
The reason that athletes are the big dogs on campuses all over the US - including elementary and high schools - is that almost all of our schools sponsor athletic teams and spend huge amounts of money to train them and build facilities for their activities and games. Most schools even take time out of class time to hold rallies supporting and extolling the athletes.
When was the last time you saw or heard of these "pep" rallies before important academic activities? Say what? Never!
When was the last time you saw or heard of these "pep" rallies before important academic activities? Say what? Never!
150
Why are football or basketball or baseball "big" at universities? It's all about public relations - a profitable marketing strategy to lure students and alumni support (i.e., $). Why do universities suppress data about rape and violence on their campuses? It's all about public relations - informing students (and their parents) and alumni of the prevalence of unsavory behaviors would harm fund raising. Luckily, transparency is on the rise and universities will need to learn that there is are even greater costs to obfuscation and denial.
151
How about a campaign to encourage students who don't participate in college sports to stay way the hell away from the athletes. There'll be a lesson in that: Violence - it's disgusting.
1
Ken Starr? A cowardly hypocrite? I am shocked! Shocked, I tell you.
77
Just another poor, misunderstood misogynistic young man who was never given a chance in life. No, to paraphrase Mr Henderson in an earlier time, Sammy couldn't spell "cat" if you spotted him the "c" and the "t," but he is a heckuva defensive end so he clearly warranted a full scholarship to a division 1 university. Really.
No comparison here with those UNC officials who run charity classes for football and basketball players to keep them eligible to play. Nope, Baylor doesn't worry about scholastics and stuff like that when it comes to school honor.
Baylor's #1 and will be #1 if it requires them to empty all the prisons in the country to find Sammy's replacement. Ya see, defensive end is an important position here at Baylor and folks here take their honor seriously.
But, Mr Starr will assure you, Baylor will not, repeat not take any more transfer students from Boise unless maybe they play QB.
In all seriousity, the Dallas Morning News reported that Baylor reduced the rape victim's soccer scholarship after she reported the rape, while keeping the thug on full scholarship. She's now transferred and her family will sue the school. Hope they get enough to shut down the football program, but that's not likely in Texas.
No comparison here with those UNC officials who run charity classes for football and basketball players to keep them eligible to play. Nope, Baylor doesn't worry about scholastics and stuff like that when it comes to school honor.
Baylor's #1 and will be #1 if it requires them to empty all the prisons in the country to find Sammy's replacement. Ya see, defensive end is an important position here at Baylor and folks here take their honor seriously.
But, Mr Starr will assure you, Baylor will not, repeat not take any more transfer students from Boise unless maybe they play QB.
In all seriousity, the Dallas Morning News reported that Baylor reduced the rape victim's soccer scholarship after she reported the rape, while keeping the thug on full scholarship. She's now transferred and her family will sue the school. Hope they get enough to shut down the football program, but that's not likely in Texas.
185
I've long thought that the academic quality of a university is inversely proportional to the quality of its football team.
5
Reduced her scholarship...I wonder if Starr new? Starr should be fired.
3
This is appalling: "Baylor reduced the rape victim's soccer scholarship after she reported the rape." Appalling.
1
It goes on and on. I had a good friend that was gang raped in college by the football team she was a cheerleader for. The stories are endless. There are thousands of rape kits sitting in police files having nothing done about them. Many many rapes go unreported. Women are not so keen about having their reputations dragged through the mud on top of the assault itself. Men take a calculated chance..because they KNOW there is little chance of being hauled away to jail. I know someone else close to me, who was raped on campus. She went to the police where she was discouraged from reporting the rape. She was so embarrassed by their questioning, as if she had somehow caused the rape, that she dropped the whole thing. The young man had forcibly raped her..nothing consensual about it. It is disgusting the entitlement that many men feel. They feel it is their right because they are male. There are too many who feel this way. And so much of it remains hidden.
113
If we tested all the rape kits, and the mountain of DNA evidence languishing in evidence lockers, we'd have precious little money left to build football stadiums and sponsor scholarships for "erratic and suicidal" student athletes. Fortunately for Baylor, their ego-maniacal, self righteous president (an experienced arbiter of all thing moral) has put forth proclamations and procedures to reassure fans, donors and alumni. This all failed to come to light over 2 years or so through no fault of his, just ask him! I mean, why would Baylor ask anything about a guy who'd been dismissed? Police departments don't do it, right?
4
Yes, and a second crime is committed against the victim when institutions (and police) protect these criminals. Rape victims human rights and safety must be prioritized over money, glory and good ole boy-ism.
3
In the case of your friend, in no way is the following a statement intended to blame the victim. But wouldn't it go a long way towards de-legitimizing football if women like her did not become cheerleaders in the first place- if women began to refuse to be involved with college football? No more female cheerleaders, pep band members, commentators, trainers, or fans! What if women began to unite against this most barbaric, corrupt, and misogynistic of enterprises? Start picketing the games and petitioning administrators. Just refuse to participate and get others (men included) to join you. That will get their attention!
3
I am not sure what Nocera is outraged about. Did Baylor impede the investigation and prosecution of a football player?
It seems as if the victim went to the police, filed charges, went through the anguish of a trial. Nocera does not mention if the University did anything to support the victim, or impede her fight for justice. Nor does he say whether they supported the accused player, other than to not publicize the criminal investigation. They did not suit him up, and allow to play. Baylor allowed the criminal process to play out, which I might add, found a player guilty, even though the town is, Nocera notes, very centered on Baylor football. Nocera's beef is that they kept silent about the charges: can they really have been a secret given that their was a criminal investigation and trial?
Having played out, the University is now in Scandal 101, which usually involves the hiring an outside investigator, tossing an expendable scapegoat under the bus, making a visible process change, and moving on. That process is a scandal, but since it is business as usual for almost every company or organization in the US, it seems to be less a problem of football, than of corporate morals.
It seems as if the victim went to the police, filed charges, went through the anguish of a trial. Nocera does not mention if the University did anything to support the victim, or impede her fight for justice. Nor does he say whether they supported the accused player, other than to not publicize the criminal investigation. They did not suit him up, and allow to play. Baylor allowed the criminal process to play out, which I might add, found a player guilty, even though the town is, Nocera notes, very centered on Baylor football. Nocera's beef is that they kept silent about the charges: can they really have been a secret given that their was a criminal investigation and trial?
Having played out, the University is now in Scandal 101, which usually involves the hiring an outside investigator, tossing an expendable scapegoat under the bus, making a visible process change, and moving on. That process is a scandal, but since it is business as usual for almost every company or organization in the US, it seems to be less a problem of football, than of corporate morals.
8
Rape used to carry the death penalty in Texas. Now 6 months. Shows how important women are in the great state of Texas.
207
And look too at the widescale forced closing of womens healthcare clinics across the state of Texas...
2
I'm not in favor of the death penalty for anything, given the possibility of an innocent person being convicted, but the sentence for rape needs to be much longer, given the immense damage it does to the victim. The victim lives with this for the rest of his or her life, even if they heal physically. And we know rapists are almost always recidivists. Twenty years with no possibility of parole sounds like the minimum to me.
I went to college at UT in the 80's. One of the reasons I transferred away was that even way back then, football and football players dominated everything. The players were nominally in our dorm, but were treated (actually "feted" would be more appropriate). There was never enough money for undergraduate engineering labs, but always money for football players. The problem is probably 15 times worse now. Glad I transferred.
139
Actually, having chaperoned dates is not as ludicrous as the column suggests. While teaching at a university in Kazakhstan, I went on a chaperoned date and had a wonderful time. Chaperones allow the woman to relax more, and they know when to drop back several steps to facilitate joking and flirting. In fact, the only reason I can see for not having chaperones on dates is that somebody wants to have sex. Obviously chaperones get in the way at some point but, for a first date with a stranger, they are a great idea.
18
Need a chaperone/ombudsman for college presidents and football coaches...can't be too careful when those who are entrusted with the welfare of minors let their pet predators run loose without significant training/consequences.
2
How is it that Sam Ukwuachu's sentence for sexual assault is only 180 days in the county jail plus ten years of probation and 400 hours of community service? This seems to contradict typical Texas sexual assault penalties which call for two to twenty years in a state prison.
Jane Doe is apparently pursuing civil damages. Let's hope she makes this a very expensive experience for Baylor since football=money is all they seem to understand.
Jane Doe is apparently pursuing civil damages. Let's hope she makes this a very expensive experience for Baylor since football=money is all they seem to understand.
366
You don' understand. This is Texas. Typical criminal sentences apply to human beings. F'ball players are gods in Texas. That's all you need to know.
15
Easy answer, cause he is a football player.
3
Does football practice count as community service?
5
The bigger issue is that universities have a lot of latitude in how they handle disciplinary issues and they care only about themselves.
On the one hand, you have a star athlete who gets expelled from his previous university, and Baylor takes him no questions asked. On the other hand, the average student accused of sexual assault can find himself without representation, no rights to examine evidence, and railroaded because the school needs to get tough on sexual assault.
Both of these extreme examples have been replayed throughout the country.
The answer is that schools are not equipped to handle these cases. They care not for the students, but the bottom line and their ability to grow an increase the pay to their administrators. Education? That's just an inconvenience so they can maintain their not for profit status.
On the one hand, you have a star athlete who gets expelled from his previous university, and Baylor takes him no questions asked. On the other hand, the average student accused of sexual assault can find himself without representation, no rights to examine evidence, and railroaded because the school needs to get tough on sexual assault.
Both of these extreme examples have been replayed throughout the country.
The answer is that schools are not equipped to handle these cases. They care not for the students, but the bottom line and their ability to grow an increase the pay to their administrators. Education? That's just an inconvenience so they can maintain their not for profit status.
56
This needs to be capitalized, underlined and printed boldly: "...schools are not equipped to handle these cases."
DoE needs to get out of Dodge; police and prosecutors need to be better trained and equipped. Schools need to let the right people handle these crimes. They are crimes, not growth pains.
DoE needs to get out of Dodge; police and prosecutors need to be better trained and equipped. Schools need to let the right people handle these crimes. They are crimes, not growth pains.
9
Universities operate under a more stringent rule than the great big rest of the country because legally, technically men and women must be equally protected, educated, have access etc in order for Title XI funding to flow.
Football equals a lot of money equals good. Students equals money but not as much so not as good as football. Clash for resources between football and students, football trumps. Morality out the window when football is criticized by anyone, especially students and most assuredly by the press.
38
This will no doubt result in few substantive changes in the Athletic Dept. Ken Starr, like Dr. Mary Sue Coleman at the Univ. of Michigan, failed to respond to campus sexual assault by a football player until forced to do so. The coach and AD covered up the allegations. Michigan's new President Dr. Mark Schlissel came to Michigan amidst a campus sexual assault scandal at Brown that garnered national attention and resulted in a Title IX investigation. The issue was never reported on in the local media until after he was hired and then by the independent newspaper; the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News for ignored the story that Dr Schlissel had gone from being involved in one Title IX investigation to another, at Michigan.
18
We need to eliminate Title IX and hire prosecutors. These are felonies, not mere civil rights violations. Put the violators in the clink.
3
No, we need to keep Title XI AND bring in the prosecutors. It's not one or the other, Title XI keeps universities beholden. The problem is the prosecutors are largely missing, and seem to have no incentive to protect rape victims.
4
This just shows the Americans´culture of violence and money beating humanity and justice (six months jail for a violent rape?).
171
Judging a nation on this incident is inappropriate and offensive. Austrian history?
4
njmike, I'm an American. Please don't be silly. You know, in American culture, if you wear a sports uniform or star in movies (among many other things), you're not held to the same standards as the rest of us. And violence? Our gun culture deserves the criticism.
1
Inspector Javert, er, Kenneth Starr, at play in the fields of the lord.
Say amen, and pass the collection plate.
Say amen, and pass the collection plate.
130
Baylor, Ken Starr and Waco. That's a trifecta. A commitment to Christian principles, faux outrage and relentless hypocrisy. At least Baylor kept the player off the field and only permitted him to do conditioning work with the team.
75
Of course we all know, had the controversy blown over he would have been starting come this Saturday.
2
Kept him off the field - so far. The season has not yet begun. Still plenty of time to suit up and play under the Texas work release program for rapists.
1
This is the result of big money in college sport. Unfortunately is is the same in pro sport it is the money that wins. When did colleges decide that sport was more important than an education ? A sad commentary on the US education system.
106
Sport is more important than an education or god, apparently. Between money and football, that is where it is hard to figure out which to worship.
3
further confirmation that Starr was, is, and will always be, a phony
239
This is it. I never believed the Starr report. No one did, but many went along. Maybe they didn't have the balls to speak truth to power. Kenn Starr was the least trustworthy moron then. Lurid report indeed. Misleading titillated columnists across the board into dripping their lubricant over a false & irresponsible narrative that Kenn Starr wanted to foist onto the president & commander-in-chief. He ushered it in glidingly. It is now about time to dislodge that story, as it was formerly told, once & for good, & to do it in the eyes of all Americans. No wonder he doesn't have the balls for truth in academia. He never did. Keep track of the football score. Disgusting. Remember that also. Next time Monica is brought on with false context.
100
At least he was convicted, as opposed to the protection and excuses made for the quarterback from Florida State who was protected by the male establishment all the way to the NFL. What happened at Baylor is an exception.
97
Indeed! That's what I was surprised by--that the hospital didn't somehow "lose" the rape kit. The hospital is in the same football town, right? Somebody at that institution, the hospital, if not at the pious Baptist university, has a moral center.
14
Sadly you are correct, and we are to "celebrate" that a rapist got 6 months in jail for ruining a young woman's life. We have a long long way to go still before we reach real Justice for rape victims.
Who would it have helped if Baylor had announced the accusation publically? All it would have done is brought problems, not just for Baylor, the football team, and a person who (at the time) was considered innocent until proven guilty, but also for the victim. Look up what happened to the woman a British soccer player (Ched Evans) was convicted of raping.
I struggle to think what Baylor could have done other than suspending him until the trial concluded - which is what they did. What if he had been acquitted?
I struggle to think what Baylor could have done other than suspending him until the trial concluded - which is what they did. What if he had been acquitted?
9
The incident should have been reported as just that: an event that was under police investigation, just like any other crime, Ukth.
The point here is simple: Baylor and their golden boy, Ken Starr went out of their way to protect this Rapist.
The point here is simple: Baylor and their golden boy, Ken Starr went out of their way to protect this Rapist.
15
What's the rapist's mitigating explanation? Typical, granted if he behaves in court. "She made me loose my cool. I should've put that anger to good use, but I couldn't get a grip. I lost control, trapped in the prisons of my mind. So I violated her."
1
As an alumnus of Baylor, I received those self-serving emails from "President and Chancellor" Starr. They reek of self-pity and faux outrage, couched (of course!) in conservative Christian language about the sanctity of Baylor's reputation. Methinks that reputation is about to go down the toilet, hopefully with Ken Starr's head to boot.
323
As another alum of Baylor, I agree completely with Bob Brown. I encourage the thousands of us who share his disgust with the priorities the college seems to have adopted to simply delete or toss out all the self-righteous, self-serving propaganda we receive as members of "the Baylor family." Thank God they're not my real family.
1
Ken Starr strikes again. This is the same Ken Starr that knew
Kathleen Willey was not telling the truth, but gave her immunity.
When she did not tell the truth again, he re-immunized her.
Kathleen Willey was not telling the truth, but gave her immunity.
When she did not tell the truth again, he re-immunized her.
192
Whited sepulchres . . .
6