In the wake of the Oregon basketball team’s sexual assault scandal, the accuser has written a letter, which was published by the school newspaper, in which she rips the university for not caring about the safety of the students. Dominic Artis, Brandon Austin and Damyean Dotson were the basketball players she accused of raping her. The woman was represented by Colorado attorney, John Clune who also represented Kobe Bryant’s rape accuser, issued this as her first public statement on the matter. Clune also confirmed that he did indeed submit the letter on her behalf to the school’s newspaper.
“The past few months have, undeniably, been the hardest and most challenging time in my life,” the woman’s letter states. “This is such an overwhelming experience and one that I hope that no other student on campus ever has to live through.”
The letter criticizes coach Dana Altman for recruiting Austin as a transfer. A prized recruit for Providence College, Austin was suspended at the beginning of his freshman season in November. Although there were rumors that Austin had been suspended over a sexual incident, Providence officials and coaches declined to disclose the specific reason for Austin’s punishment, even to Altman.
“I know a lot of people are angry. I am angry, too,” the woman wrote. “I am angry with the culture that appears to exist in our athletic department that prioritizes winning over safety of our students. I cannot fathom how our basketball coach recruited someone who was in the middle of a suspension for another sexual assault to come to Eugene.”
It was eventually reported by the Wall Street Journal that Austin’s suspension was indeed due to a sexual assault investigation at Providence. The accuser still continues her education at the university, and Altman has come out to say that he regrets not delving deeper into why Austin was suspended from Providence basketball. All of the players have been dismissed from the team as well.
[h/t ESPN]