We’ve heard from the University Board of Regents, who basically corroborate that this “procedure” was followed. Henrik the Viking above is correct; there’s nothing the athletic department can do that is in any way proportionate to the crime. The policy should be one line: Call the police.

In any case, this has nothing to do with the actual charges against the players. As we’ve said before, Everson and Satterfield are innocent until proven guilty. This is about the response of the football program, the athletic department, and the university as a whole to the allegations. Rather than immediately referring this to proper authorities for a full investigation, the head coach urged an “in-house” disciplinary process and moved two people into the room where it happened, likely before any evidence could be collected. The athletic department put the victim in a meeting with the top 2 administrators and the highest-paid man in the state. The university – in an obvious attempt to stonewall the investigation – immediately referred the victim and her parents to the general counsel’s office, and didn’t even pay enough attention to know the alleged perpetrator was living three doors down from the victim.

At its best, it is gross incompetence at all levels. At its worst, it is a wide-reaching conspiracy to derail the investigation of a rape which includes the head coach, AD, and president of the university. Either way, it is completely inexcusable, whether the accused are eventually found guilty or not.

This is not like the Duke case. This involves allegations against the University and its officials, not allegations by a rape victim against alleged perpetrators. It doesn’t matter if the victim’s allegations against the alleged perps are valid or not as far as the University’s response is concerned.

The fact that facts have not been revealed is a large part of the problem.

Although I did not personally throw anyone under the Bus, (I only stated that action needs to be taken), I will defend BHGP’s letter nonetheless. I’m not sure you can call it ‘throwing someone under the bus’ when you are going after top officials. They are driving the bus. BHGP letter is standing in front of the bus and pulling the driver out. Scooter Libby was thrown under the bus, if Bush/Cheney had gone down, they would not have been ‘thrown under bus.’ Semantics, perhaps. But there is a difference between throwing someone under the bus and having the courage to call out the top dogs.

I do remember the Duke case, which has nothing to do with this. This, as with all sexual assaults, is an individual case, and should be treated as such.

To your "point", regardless of what happened that night, all of the individuals named acted with extreme incompetence:

If she was telling the truth – they should have called the police and public safety immediately, and done everything in their power to protect her. This, by the way, would have also protected the university.

If every single thing she said was a lie – they should have called the police and public safety immediately, and let the legal system work. This, by the way, would have also protected the university.

This is not a judgement call. Wherever the truth lies, trying to cover it up was wrong. Further, allowing the accused to live 3 doors down from the accuser in a university dorm is flat out malicious.

You are allowed to have your opinion, and to share it. Along with that, we have the right to point out how wrong you are.

0044, the University prevented the proper authorities from being notified. Regardless of whether the alleged crime occurred or not, it is, simply, the job of the police to investigate any alleged crime. You want people to shut up until “all the fact are revealed”. The actions taken by the university prevented all the facts from being ascertained – that is a disservice to the victim, if she is telling the truth, and to the alleged perpetrators, if she is not.

I think the mother was looking for all adult parties involved (and yes, considering athletes were involved includes everyone BHGP is calling to resign) to protect her daughter (or even the accused if the case may be). They failed at that. Ferentz et al have a responsibilty to these kids. If they can’t handle it, then they never should have taken the job in the first place.

The fact that the president of UI (and a WOMAN for that matter) brushed this off as “not her area of responsibility” is absolutely maddening.

Someone comes to you with a rape complaint. It’s so very complicated, allegations of rape. There are many, many sides to a rape complaint.

So you propose to manage an investigation and punishment process, so that it is all handled quietly and informally.

Yes, it’s very complicated. So many points of view. Not like there is a justice system in place to address violent crime complaints, or anything. Far better to let a bureaucratic rulebook govern the outcome than a public referral to the ICPD.

BTW, depending on the prosecutor you ask, somewhere between 20-50% of rape complaints are false. So neither the alleged victim nor the alleged perps are served by this kangaroo court approach.

I think it’s more than a little disingenuous for you to sit there and tell everyone to “calm down”. This is not stealing a credit card. Lives have been ruined. Further, for you to assert that anything related to this can be “cleared up” displays that your grasp of the incident, and the damage done, is tenuous at best.

I think people are confused at what BHGP is asking. They aren’t asking them to resign because they are responsible for the rape itself, but how they conducted themselves after the allegation.

Regardless of who is the victim and who is innocent/guilty, neither party was protected by the University. IT’S THEIR FUCKING JOB FOR CHRIST’S SAKE.

Not to be patronizing, or anything, but that was not a very sophisticated, educated person who authored that November letter.

So you are right, their decisions are off the table. It’s beyond tasteless for people to be writing here and on the message boards:

“She should have been a smarter victim and made better choices.”

Now, re-read that letter. And consider this. The university put that woman in touch with the General Counsel of the university, and said, You deal with him if you have concerns. Is she qualified to manage this situation alone, her daughter’s education on the line, in a dialogue with the GC of a Big Ten U? Puh-leeze. This is disgusting. It’s like something out of an Upton Sinclair novel, the corporation manipulating the flock that pours the steel. Sally Mason won’t be negotiating her own severance without an attorney, and an expensive one at that, but this poor girl’s mother was told to handle matters on her own with the GC.

November 19,2007

I am. writing this letter in response to my visit last week to Iowa City.

As I reflect on the many hours of meetings that the victim and I had with the officers from DCI, University of Iowa Police, the County Attomey’s office and the various offices of officials at the University of Iowa I would like to communicate what I learned and experienced.

Firstly, I want to thank Chuck Green for his willingness to go to DCI on behalf of the victim. I recognize that that action took a great sense of what was best for her, the school and his position. I commend him for his professionalism and character. In the same vein I want to commend Officer Brian from the University of Iowa Police and Diane Funk from the Rape Crisis Organization for their compassion, commitment and genuine help toward and on behalf of the victim. I would like, also, to thank Mr. Wade Kisner, Special Agent in Charge, and Mr. Jaggat Sandu, Special Agent, both with DCI. They were and continue to be, extremely capable, profession and above reproach.

Secondly, it is my purpose to convey to those involved my perspective of the situation at hand and what has happened from our point of view up to this point, Monday November 19,2007.

I do not want to be complicated, therefore I will communicate what I hope to be a very straight forward assessment.

On Sunday, October 14th the victim went directly to the hospital and the University of Iowa Hospital ER. Her Dad. anived in Iowa City around 1 am that night. Beginning Monday morning at 8am the victim told her story to University Administrators in the Athletic Department. She met with her counselor XXXX at 8 am, and from that time on met witlt Gary Barta, Fred Mims, Asst. Athletic Director, the Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz and Betsy Altmaier along with her XXXX Coach XXXX. There were no other officials brought in, nor was it ever suggested by those present that there was any intention or need to do so. The victims father was there from Monday until the next Saturday. There was adequate time for someone to call in the higher officials to address the problem. They were told that if the victim chose to go with an Informal action the Athletic Department would act swiftly and effectively. If she chose to go Formally, which was explained as an in-house process by going outside the Athletic Department, she would be looking at a long, arduous process. She elected to go Informally as it seemed it would be taken care of immediately rather than over a long period of time. She was really encouraged to try the Informal route first. Her dad asked that the Football Coach attend the meetings as it was communicated to him that it would be through the Football program that this would be dealt with and handled. During one of these meetings with the above mentioned people it was brought out that this would be the 8th or there had been 8 infractions involving the Football Team. In hindsight what did that have to do with anything except that maybe it put the program and the school in some kind of jeopardy if this went Formal. It was also discussed that there were three options for the victim. Informal, Formal or Criminal. There was never any information given during that entire week regarding the process of investigation which would involve the EOD [the University of Iowa’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity]. No one ever gave any direct picture of what even an informal action would entail, just that it would be swift and that the Athletic Department would take care of everything. Never was the EOD mentioned. Not one time. Nor was the victim ever advised that she could, or should in fact have an advocate at any or all meetings.

The father of the victim left that Saturday October 20th. From that day forward my communication regarding this situation was initiated by the father. He was directed to speak with Mark Mills. Betsy Altmaier called in Mark Mills. We were never given any clear reason why he was now involved. We asked over and over and over and over—what is the process? What can we expect? Who is protecting the victim after she told her story to so many people that first week? Where are these boys in all of this? NO ANSWERS. Only, due process, due process. Our question was also, Who is in charge? Even on Monday, November 5th the father called the office of the President of the University of Iowa. The woman he spoke to asked what it was regarding and he told her it was of an urgent nature regarding an assult on campus and to please have the President return his call as soon as was possible. He left his name and number. It looks from this vantage point as if the President was not familiar with his name, which would also suggest she was not familiar with what had happened up to that point. He never received a call back. We had asked during that first week that someone speak with the victims professors as she missed an entire week of school due to an enormous amount of meetings and emotional crisis. Father and daughter were told that that would be handled. it wasn’t. Not until she was given Diane Funk as her advocate were the teachers notified. After 3 and a half weeks. The victim spoke personally to her XXXX teacher. Something that was very difficult. The father called Frank Mims and told him 2 weeks later that someone needed to address her

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academic situation. He called the victim in and arranged for her to drop her Class. The week after the Saturday that the father left and after the father had called Frank Mims for updates, Frank called the victim to his office. He told her there were some folks that needed to talk to her and could she come over to their office. He did not tell her she was going to an interview with EOD. She had no idea what she was heading into. In a sentence it was a most traumatic experience for her. They were aggressive and forceful in their interviewing tactics and accusatory in their stance. She told me afterwards, while crying, that they basically accused her of bringjng this upon herself. She was interviewed with the intention of making her feel that she caused this. I would like to interject here that from this vantage point I am very gravely concerned about the outcome of an investigation that was had without the knowledge of Dean Jones, as that is protocol in the code of student conduct for the University of Iowa which I learned from Dean Jones himself. Her friends were called in as well, not having any idea what they were being called in for, and without the mention, again, of the right to an advocate, and they also left crying feeling as if they had committed some kind of crime by being associated with the victim and this situation. It was handlcd very poorly and less than professionally. And all without going before Dean Jones.

On Monday November 5th the victim, after having been confronted by the perpetrators and their friends on a daily basis and having found no sense of protection or involvement by the University of Iowa, went to the University of Iowa Police. She met with Officer Brian. She told him everything. From that day forward things have taken a new turn. Brian met with her several times during that week and on Friday November 9th he called her in to meet with Diane Funk and himself. He proceeded to reveal to her that there were not 2 boys involved, but 3. The third boy had raped her while she was unconscious and that the University of Iowa Athletic Department knew that. They knew that all the way back during the first week after the assault. And they had kept that from her and her Dad as far back as the first week after the incident.

Needless to say the victim was struck down. It was that next Monday that the father decided that he would call Chuck Green and find out who is objective here? Everyone is connected to the U of I. With a great sense of character I believe that that is when the OCI was called in. And rightly so. On Tuesday November 13th the victim called home and said that she had just discovered that 3rd boy that was considered the attacker was living in his girlfriends room in Hillcrest 3 doors down from her room. For THREE WEEKS.

I arrived in Iowa Wednesday morning November 14th. I was met at the airport by the Univenity of Iowa police and taken directly to the police offices. I spent the afternoon with the DCI officers and Chuck Green. On Thursday morning the victim and I met with Ann Lahey with the County Attorney’s office. That afternoon the victim was again interviewed by the police.

At this point I want to communicate a most amazing experience that, I think, says everything about how the school had handled this until this point.

On Tuesday November 13th the father had made a call into Mark Mills to ask, again, what was happening.

Mark called him back and told him that since I would be there the next day he would like for me to get in touch with Dean Jones and a Mr. Baker as, according to Mr. Mark Mills, the investigation should be complete by that time., While the victim was being interviewed I asked Officer Jaggat Sandhu if I should call Dean Jones and he told me to go ahead. I called and got through to him. I introduced myself, gave my name and asked if I could meet with with him regarding the outcome of the investigation. He, Dean Jones, proceeded to tell me that he did not know who I was, did not know my name, my daughters name, nor anything regarding this investigation. He told me he “had nothing”. I learned later that that point was in fact very true as the report had been subpoenaed and he had not seen it. However, he said to me he could not help me. Mark Mills also communicated with the County Attorneys office that day that, in fact, this was not done with Dean Jones knowledge. He had not been involved. My question to him, then, was how can you possibly help the victim when you have no idea what has been happening, and, more importantly, why don’t you know anything? How is that remotely possible?

On Friday morning I received a call from Diane Funk telling me that there would be a clause in the release of housing contract that would forbid the victim from going into Hillcrest forevermore. I called Jaggat Sandhu and explained that that absolutely seemed like a punishment rather than a protective and supportive action for the victim. I met that morning with Betsy Altmaier. Up until that meeting I was under the impression that she has something to do with representing the Presidents Office. Meaning, the victim and the father were under the impression that Betsy represented the Presidents Office which gave them the false feeling that things were left with the authorities that could and would handle this “swiftly and efficiently”. They thought that because she had attended all of the meetings from Wednesday on the week the father was there, that the University formally knew exactly what had happened to the victim. We were very wrong. I

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learned in that meeting that although Betsy is a most wonderful advocate for the Athletic Department as is related to the victim, it was not through her that the school would necessarily be informed of this situation. Again, my question was, who is telling who what?

We then went to the Office of Dean Jones. Mr. Chuck Green and Diane Funk were also in attendance. The meeting began with Dean Jones asking what exactly we needed. I began talking. The victim interrupted me and told Dean Jones that she needed out of the Dorm as she had been experiencing unending harassment from the friends of the boys involved in this as well as the boys themselves. She had found out that one boy had actually been living 3 doors down from her for 3 weeks. The very boy that the Athletic Department knew had been involved while she was TOTALLY unconscious. They mocked her, called her names, laughed at her and had been left free to do whatever they chose after she had told her story for a week to various University Officials with absolutely no help fonhcoming. Dean Jones asked the victim point blank “How can I know you will be safe if I allow you to go in and out of Hillcrest!”. Her reply was simply that she had been doing it all alone for almost 5 weeks, with no help or intervention from anyone, and had trusted that someone would come to her at some point with a solution, help, hope, a sense that what she had reported was taken seriously. Never happened. She also told Dean Jones that the Athletic Department had lied to her directly the week of October 15th knowing there was a third boy that had raped her while she was unconscious and she had never known that until the police had become involved and her trust of the University was depleted. We left that meeting knowing that in the case of someone claiming sexual assault the University protocol and Code of Student conduct an Informal action is NEVER taken. Why didn’t someone tell the victim and her father that the week of October 15th? Why didn’t one or ALL of the Administrators in those meetings that week, or the next week, or the next week, (while the victim and her family are waiting for any forthcoming answers) bring in Dean Jones???? Where were the troops? Why did no one at the University level know the protocol and follow it? Why didn’t Fred Mims call Dean Jones? Why didn’t Betsy Altmaier call Dean Jones? Did Betsy Altmaier tell the President? If not. why not.

How can you hear this story and not look into some book of Protocol and find the page that says when a sexual assault is reported there IS NO INFORMAL ANYTHING. It must go to Dean Jones. Why didn’t Mark Mills call Dean Jones? Why didn’t the football coach call Dean Jones? Why didn’t the EOD call Dean Jones? Why didn’t someone direct the victim or her father in any given phone call day after day after day, to call Dean Jones? Did someone call him and not go through the correct channels? Who was in control of this information? The victim and her father were lead to believe that the meetings called and attended were right where this information belonged and that it would all be handled in an efficient, swift, effective and just way. Just give us time to practice due process. And if that were not the case why didn’t one or all of those people direct the victim and her father in the way they should procede to get this taken care of!?

That is why the victim went to the police. No one from the University ever contacted her and gave her any sense of direction, protection or involvement. She was on her own. We were on our own. The victim was left with NO CHOICE but to seek help outside of the school. She was being harassed by athletes in the group in which the attackers belonged. I understand that 2 of the players were suspended for lying. No one told us what, if anything was happening.

Finally, in conclusion, as look back on the past 5 weeks this is what I see. I believe that the University did not handle this situation in a professional way that followed University protocol and compliance to its OWN roles set out in the code of student conduct. I believe that interim action against these boys is absolutely very late in coming. If only for the protection of the victim. I am horrified, as is anyone who even hears of this is, to learn that the boy that raped the victim while she was unconscious was living 3 doors down from her for 3 weeks.

In my understanding we are waiting at this point for the DCI investigation to be completed. Because the school never gave the victim or her family any sense of something being done that we could hold on to, this seems to be reaching epic proportions. I understand that the media is hounding and waiting for any morsel. I am so sorry that this is the case. This ABSOLUTELY could have been avoided if the University of Iowa had stepped in and done the right thing by all involved. When the investigation is completed and is presented to the County Attorneys office it is up to the victim to decide where to go with this. I also understand that the boys have engaged very high powered attorneys.

We are distressed over the events that have occurred but I feel as though the people that are now involved will get to the bottom of this and the right thing will be accomplished. I actually made a call today to the President of the University, Sally Mason. She shared her concern but told me in no uncertain terms that she

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very rarely gets involved with things of this nature. Isn’t that the truth. Me neither. The victim either. Who is at the helm? I believe that she is involved whether she wants to be or not as she is giving statements to the press. I told her she might like to take a minute with me and she simply told me she would direct me to someone who handles these things. My question today is WHO IS THAT PERSON AND WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN FOR THE PAST FIVE WEEKS? The victim went first to the hospital then DIRECTLY to the Administratosrs of the Department of which she believed she would be protected and the situation would be handled and if they couldn’t do that, that they would surely direct her or take the information themselves to the authorities that could. The school has brought this to this place. NO ONE ELSE. Again, my purpose in writing this letter is to communicate to all of those people that are involved my assessment of the past few weeks. I hope this says to all that the victim is very determined, responsible, courageous and honest. She does not want to leave Iowa, is very committed to doing what she set out to do there. On the other hand, we cannot let the press or opposing side crucify her in the process, which very, very often happens. More often than not, actually, in sexual assault cases.

I appeal to those that can make a difference in this tragic situation to do what is true, what is right and what will reflect the moral courage and foundations of the University and those that represent it.

I very much appreciate your time and your genuine concern regarding the outcome of this.

Sincerely,

The victim and her family

is he had DJK move in after he suspended the players. He suspended them for a reason, but didn’t have the common sense that maybe the room should be investigated as a possible crime scene? That’s just odd to me.

One day? One week? 22 days?

I forgot to point out, the stuff I cited here about the value of human beings? That’s in the Code of Conduct for Product Licenses. Do we hold the value of human rights lower than that of Herky on a Hoodie?

That some heads will need to roll. That is clear, this is an epic-clusterf*ck and has presumably been mis-handled from the beginning.

The question here is whose head(s) should roll. This is the part that I think JHC may have been too quick in calling for Ferentz’s. From the all I’ve read, the only new information we have on KF in regards to this the fact that he was part of the group that met with the victim and her family, the group that encouraged her to pursue a process “informally” (that term will be forever notorious). If KF put any pressure at all on the victim/her family to not go to the police, I will gladly call for his resignation and prosecution to the extent possible. But also notice who is missing from JHC’s list of people to resign: the victim’s coach. This may be nothing more than an accidnetal oversight. However, the coach is specifically mentioned as being part of the group, and another that recommended that they proceed informally. If KF should go solely because of his participation/recommendation (and that’s the only new info in re KF), then so should this coach. I hold Barta/UI administrators more accountable because their positions are one of oversight and review, they’re the ones who have a duty to make sure that the process is followed and the victim receives justice.

The DJK is extremely fishy, and there’s absolutely no reason for Ferentz to be involved in the “investigation” other than on the side answering questions. I was willing to forgive the on-field struggles and being grossly overpaid. The off-field issues were where I was starting to get concerned and if he has even a whiff of anything to do with this, it is time for him to go.
I know he can’t police his players 24/7, but the bottom line is he’s the head coach for Iowa Football and the buck ultimately has to stop with him.

He was there, and he knew better. That’s buck passing if you ask me.

that Ferentz didn’t meet with that father every day for a week, didn’t know that the non-judicial ultra-quiet ultra-justice process was under way, and, a month later, didn’t know that the alleged victim was living three doors down from the alleged perp? Well, sure, if that’s what you’re saying, everyone should lay off Ferentz. He was just along for the ride.

for the character of an alleged rapist to a prospective coach, telling him that he would have the alleged rapist back on the team if he could?

So he couldn’t help get the alleged victim out of seeing the alleged perps every day for weeks, but he could help get his alleged perps a nice scholarship at a new school?

You know what I’m tired of? People being more concerned about Kirk Ferentz’s reputation than that of this girl. I’m also tired of people running this squeaky-clean image shit. This guy was far from sqeaky-clean, long before last October. His team had already been running amok for over a year at the time of this incident. And they continued to do so after this. And in matters like this, who gives a fuck about a guy’s coaching rep anyway? Who gives a fuck if some bloggers will have to post a retraction? What does any of that matter? What is wrong with you? Where was your outrage when this girl was attacked? Or are you more worried about a coaching reputation than a girl’s life?

For the life of me I can’t figure out why that would be.

Because he checked his conscience at the door and turned to section 6.2.3.a.i of the “Half-Assed Equivocating Response to Felony Sexual Assault Non-Judicial Process Protocol” section of his employee manual, everything’s cool. No question, he’d be pleased if his own daughter were treated similarly. After all, the measure of a man is his ability to comply with idiotic, extra-legal, scurrilous, mealy-mouthed bureaucratic justifications for burying virtue in exchange for good press. It’s the SUI?, right? They decide what is and isn’t felony rape. Gotta break eggs to make an omelette. This thinking you describe makes me sick.

What the fuck is wrong with you, anyway, man? Are you, like, 12 years old?

You can’t understand that there are 70 posts here describing that he DID comply with “procedure”? That in that compliance is systemic total failure? That in complying we have the greater failure? Is it true or something that if you do love football you forfeit the ability to think abstractly? Read entire paragraphs? Too long? Process compound sentences? Subordinate clauses explode your brain? What? What?

I have read more dumb shit amoral defenses of Iowa City cube-land today than I thought possible. It’s like reading HR manuals from the U.S. Department of Do-Nothing. It’s okay? You want your child treated like this young girl? What exactly is wrong with you? Iowa football is so important now we need to assume collateral damage of this sort? Fuck me. I give up. We’re playing chess here and the other guys brought checkers. This is pointless.

Except. Not to Bob Downer. Good luck Sally Mason. Tomorrow.

The minute you started talking about his image and reputation, it made me wonder what you were thinking. I’m just sick to death of hearing people excuse everything that happens on his watch because of some fucking image he’s cultivated. If all of that is real, then let’s hold him to a higher standard, not a lower one, shall we? Oh, you don’t want to do that, do you? If he really is the man, father, and coach you think he is, why is he still here? After I don’t know, let’s say… 20 arrests? wouldn’t he think “I’m not doing things the right way here and it’s time for me to hold myself to the same standards I do my players and move on.” How many kids does he kick off the team before he looks in the mirror and considers that perhaps he’s part of the problem? And why are you so insistent that he get the opportunity to defend himself if he did nothing wrong? And what’s it going to take for people to demand that he be held accountable for his program?
(that last one is a rhetorical question)