A disturbing report published by the Associated Press early Sunday morning alleges that Baylor University coerced survivors of rape into not reporting their assaults by threatening to make public the details of their assaults to family members. The university also allegedly "pushed" rape survivors into accepting alcohol conduct violations, and made those who considered reporting their rapes fearful of sexual conduct violations.
Baylor's former president, Ken Starr, and its former football coach, Art Briles, were removed from their respective positions earlier this summer after an independent investigation into the school's Title IX practices revealed the school did not properly handle reports of sexual assault. Baylor, the Baptist Waco, TX school, included "fornication," "adultery," and "homosexual acts" in an official list of university misconduct until last year, according to the AP report.
Law firm Pepper Hamilton reported that it found the university's Title IX procedures "wholly inadequate to consistently provide a prompt and equitable response." It continued:
The AP report continued:
A spokesperson from Baylor did not immediately return a request for comment.