LSU needs to answer for its Baylor-esque institutional rot, and firing Ed Orgeron should be the first step.
Ed Orgeron has to go.
Period.
And he might not be the only one at LSU, in athletics and beyond, who needs to be sent packing.
On Monday, USA Today published a thorough investigation into LSU, which seems to have a robust culture of turning a blind eye to women on campus who report domestic violence and sexual assault claims to police.
Especially when allegations are made against members of the football team.
According to USA Today, in the four years that Orgeron has been head coach, no fewer than nine members of his Tigers program have been reported to police for sexual misconduct and dating violence.
And those are just the ones who went to police. According to RAINN, the national anti-sexual violence organization, a small percentage of women — about 20 percent of those college-aged — report sexual assault to authorities, so it’s almost certain there are more who haven’t stepped forward.
Not surprisingly, Orgeron and LSU seemed especially protective of running back Derrius Guice. Documents show that Guice was accused of rape by two women and a third said he took semi-nude photos without her permission, which he sent to at least one other person.
Orgeron was not the head coach when the first known accusation against Guice was made, but he was a member of the coaching staff. He was named head coach about five months before the second rape allegation against Guice, which came in April 2017.
In all three cases, USA Today writes, LSU officials either doubted the women’s stories, did not investigate or did not call the police.
In the four years that Ed Orgeron (left) has been LSU head coach, no fewer than nine members of his Tigers teams have been reported to police for sexual misconduct and dating violence, including ex-running back Derrius Guice. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In the four years that Ed Orgeron (left) has been LSU head coach, no fewer than nine members of his Tigers teams have been reported to police for sexual misconduct and dating violence, including ex-running back Derrius Guice. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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Which meant the Tigers’ star running back could go about his life, and LSU could reap the benefits of having him on the field. In 2017, Guice rushed for 1,251 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns. His attorney says Guice was never punished by the team or school.
Who cares about young women as long as the football team is good, right?
LSU isn’t the first school and athletic department to send this message. Just the latest.
Guice was hardly the only troubling instance. USAT reports that at least seven officials at the school knew wide receiver Drake Davis was physically abusing his girlfriend, and did nothing for months. It wasn’t until after Davis pleaded guilty in court to several misdemeanors that the school expelled him.
Quarterback Peter Parrish was accused of raping a woman earlier this year, suspended for a year by LSU and has since transferred to the University of Memphis.
Three more players have been accused of rape, and a fourth of recording a woman during sex without her knowledge. Only one has been arrested. Two other players accused of dating violence were arrested.
LSU would not confirm or deny if any of those players were disciplined.
The story conjures bad memories of the sexual assault scandal at Baylor, particularly as the rot at LSU doesn’t stop with the athletics department. Samantha Brennan, the woman who accused Guice of taking photos of her without permission, said the school’s Title IX department never reached out to her after she filed a report with campus police, as required. (Brennan did not want to press charges then, and maintains that stance now.)
LSU has refused to provide records of one rape allegation, from a member of the women’s tennis team, to the victim and her attorney despite repeated requests. Davis’ victim, also a member of the women’s tennis team, told an athletic trainer about her abuse and the trainer told no one for a year. Meanwhile, the young woman’s father informed the tennis team’s co-head coach what was happening and was told, “couldn’t be possible, wouldn’t be possible.”
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Ed Orgeron has to go.
Period.
And he might not be the only one at LSU, in athletics and beyond, who needs to be sent packing.
On Monday, USA Today published a thorough investigation into LSU, which seems to have a robust culture of turning a blind eye to women on campus who report domestic violence and sexual assault claims to police.
Especially when allegations are made against members of the football team.
According to USA Today, in the four years that Orgeron has been head coach, no fewer than nine members of his Tigers program have been reported to police for sexual misconduct and dating violence.
And those are just the ones who went to police. According to RAINN, the national anti-sexual violence organization, a small percentage of women — about 20 percent of those college-aged — report sexual assault to authorities, so it’s almost certain there are more who haven’t stepped forward.
Not surprisingly, Orgeron and LSU seemed especially protective of running back Derrius Guice. Documents show that Guice was accused of rape by two women and a third said he took semi-nude photos without her permission, which he sent to at least one other person.
Orgeron was not the head coach when the first known accusation against Guice was made, but he was a member of the coaching staff. He was named head coach about five months before the second rape allegation against Guice, which came in April 2017.
In all three cases, USA Today writes, LSU officials either doubted the women’s stories, did not investigate or did not call the police.
In the four years that Ed Orgeron (left) has been LSU head coach, no fewer than nine members of his Tigers teams have been reported to police for sexual misconduct and dating violence, including ex-running back Derrius Guice. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In the four years that Ed Orgeron (left) has been LSU head coach, no fewer than nine members of his Tigers teams have been reported to police for sexual misconduct and dating violence, including ex-running back Derrius Guice. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
More
Which meant the Tigers’ star running back could go about his life, and LSU could reap the benefits of having him on the field. In 2017, Guice rushed for 1,251 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns. His attorney says Guice was never punished by the team or school.
Who cares about young women as long as the football team is good, right?
LSU isn’t the first school and athletic department to send this message. Just the latest.
Guice was hardly the only troubling instance. USAT reports that at least seven officials at the school knew wide receiver Drake Davis was physically abusing his girlfriend, and did nothing for months. It wasn’t until after Davis pleaded guilty in court to several misdemeanors that the school expelled him.
Quarterback Peter Parrish was accused of raping a woman earlier this year, suspended for a year by LSU and has since transferred to the University of Memphis.
Three more players have been accused of rape, and a fourth of recording a woman during sex without her knowledge. Only one has been arrested. Two other players accused of dating violence were arrested.
LSU would not confirm or deny if any of those players were disciplined.
The story conjures bad memories of the sexual assault scandal at Baylor, particularly as the rot at LSU doesn’t stop with the athletics department. Samantha Brennan, the woman who accused Guice of taking photos of her without permission, said the school’s Title IX department never reached out to her after she filed a report with campus police, as required. (Brennan did not want to press charges then, and maintains that stance now.)
LSU has refused to provide records of one rape allegation, from a member of the women’s tennis team, to the victim and her attorney despite repeated requests. Davis’ victim, also a member of the women’s tennis team, told an athletic trainer about her abuse and the trainer told no one for a year. Meanwhile, the young woman’s father informed the tennis team’s co-head coach what was happening and was told, “couldn’t be possible, wouldn’t be possible.”
Story continues
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Report: LSU mishandled rape, abuse allegations against numerous football players
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LSU failed to address sexual misconduct allegations made against a star running back and other students for years, new report says
9h ago
Primary Markets
Ad
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Observations: Alabama keeping week-by-week mentality in uncertain times
6h ago
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16h ago
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LSU needs to answer for its Baylor-esque institutional rot, and firing Ed Orgeron should be the first step
In light of USA Today's damning investigation into LSU's robust culture of turning blind eyes toward women who report sexual assault and domestic violence, what is the school going to do about it?
