Alleged Rape Victim Speaks out by ASHLEY L
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THE UN VERSITY xOv THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE EG H Qgj) UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT CHATTANOOGA VOLUME 100 ISSUE 10 NOVEMBER 3, 2005 Alleged rape victim speaks out BY ASHLEY L. HOPKINS come back to his house to sleep for said that the football player who At the time, because they hadn't managing editor the night. The alleged victim said took her home threw her clothes been charged ... we were trying she was so drunk by the time she at her and told her to get dressed. to keep names quiet ... [so we The 18-year-old female who got there from alcohol consumed The two of them plus another one wouldn't] expose them to undue was the victim of the alleged rape at the party that she couldn't walk of the football players left with scrutiny [and] public ridicule." on Oct. 21 said she did not report up the stairs and had to be carried. her, still too drunk to walk down But Summers identified them the incident sooner because she Once inside his room, he took off the stairs, and she asked them to by name shortly after. They are. was more worried about starting her clothes and she said she was take her to UTC Place so she could Muhammed Ahmad Abdus- trouble than seeking punishment too drunk to say anything to him look for some friends that she was Salaam, Anthony Brodnax, for what had happened. about it. At that point, she claims at the party with. She said that Lironnie Davis, DeJuan Payne, "... I was afraid to," she said. he had sex with her, and she was they just left her there, knowing Cori Stukes, Terrence Thomas and "I didn't think that anything would blacking in and out during it. she couldn't get in, and then Larry White. Summers said that probably be done about it." The alleged victim said that she she walked back to Lockmiller anything that happened between Jerry Summers, a Chattanooga does not remember a lot of what Apartments where she spent the the men and the female was attorney representing the football was going on at that time, but she night with and confided the night's consensual. players, had no comment about the said after he finished raping her events to a friend. " ... If anyone were to say alleged victim's statements except, she opened her eyes and there At the Mocs football game that the sexual activity between "The truth will come out." were seven people in the room. Saturday, the alleged victim was me and the seven players was According to the police report, She said the football player that in the stands. On Sunday, she went consensual, they are lying," the the female attended a party at the took her home with him then to UTC police and filed the rape alleged rape victim said. "I also Lambda Chi house on the night of began whispering to the other guys report, a little over two days after think that the seven players are Oct. 20, which ran into the early in the room and they all took turns the alleged rape occurred. pitiful because of the fact that hours of Oct. 21. Her roommate having sex with her. She said that University took action they would take advantage of a had her room key and she became at this point she began to freak out, "[UTC police] began drunken person and then say that separated from her friend over the but that she was still slipping in investigating right away," Chuck everything that happened was course of the party, so one of the and out of consciousness. Cantrell, assistant vice chancellor football players offered for her to Afterward, the alleged victim for university relations, said."... See RAPE Da. 8 1 Brandon Jones Inflammatory fliers silenced by staff Search for Students have suggested food service employees are BY ROBBY TRAIL several students," Pelton said. education and advocacy of the women's disrespectful toward them, yet other students argue the editor-in-chief She also said the fliers included Transformation Project, had no students themselves are rude to the employees. the words, "We believe you. We comment about the situation A UTC student said support you. We will work to because she has been instructed by golf coach university officials denied her make this campus a safer place." university officials not to comment. Students, employees the opportunity to pass out Williamson said the fliers Pelton feels university tees off fliers on campus supporting the presented information that has officials have taken away her BY ROBBY TRAIL victim of an alleged gang rape. not been proven to be true. First Amendment rights. complain of disrespect editor-in-chief "I tried to make it clear to "I contacted the student and "It was [originally] not a university administrators that I told her we could not allow her freedom of speech issue," she BY CLARISA BARNES "1 get along with | students | just The search for the coach for was not trying to say anything at to hand out the fliers," she said. said. "My original intention staff reporter fine," Jones said. "I don't have any the women's golf team, the newest all about the football team," said Williamson said she was only to show support for problem with them. I respect them athletic sport at UTC, will begin Rhiannon Pelton, a Chattanooga referred Pelton to the the victim, so when she walked The relationship between and they respect me." this week, an athletic department junior. "I was also not trying Transformation Project. around campus she would see students and food service Jones said that one of his official said. to say anything negative about The Transformation Project other students walking around employees suffers from lack of tactics to building positive the university's handling of it." is a women's advocacy and campus and know we care." "Our goal is to have a coach respect and awareness. relationships with students is in place Jan. 1," associate athletic Mary Lynn Williamson, issues group funded by grants. University spokesperson For students, frustrations caused giving compliments. director Laura Mincy said. "We vice chancellor for student Williamson said project Chuck Cantrell said Pelton's by classes, roommates, jobs and When problems do occur with hope to have a coach named in development, said Pelton's request members could have chosen to allegations about her rights other means of involvement can students, Jones said he walks away early December." to set up a table in the UC to pass out sponsor a table, giving Pelton the being violated are "just not true." provoke disrespectful behavior. and gets a manager. On Oct. 20, Chancellor Roger fliers was denied for two reasons. opportunity to pass out ribbons. Williamson said it is her For food service employees, He said he does not take the Brown announced golf would "First, only groups, not Helen Eigenberg, head of the job to make sure the rights long lines, short staff and limited behavior personal, though, because be the 17th NCAA-sponsored individuals, are allowed to set up a criminal justice department, said of all students are protected. supplies can lead to poor attitudes. he thinks that the rude behavior intercollegiate sport at UTC. table," she said. "Also, the material the role of the Transformation "Protecting everyone's When these items are put into the stems from other things that may Female undergraduate students on her fliers was too inflammatory." Project is to increase rights sometimes is difficult same equation, results can be not- be going on in students' lives. were surveyed last month to Pelton said she does not believe awareness of women's issues. to do," she said. "When you so-friendly. "In food services, you're going see which sport the student the fliers were inflammatory. "[Demonstrations like this one] are making allegations that Taren Spence, a junior from to have [problems]; you just have population would like for the The fliers stated, "Rape need to be done independently on have not been proven, you Murfreesboro, Tenn.. shared one to know how to deal with it," he athletic department to add. awareness ribbons for the their own," she said. "We try to do are on shaky legal ground." of her experiences. said. Of the 320 students who voted, UTC student who was things that are structured in nature." Managing editor Ashley L. Spence said she stops by Director of food services 120, or 37.5 percent, voted for allegedly gang raped by Sara Peters, coordinator for Hopkins contributed to this story. Java City in the UC convenience Xavier Flores has worked with golf. Eighty-five students voted store regularly to purchase an Aramark for 20 years and said for rowing, and 72 students voted early morning energy boost lhat problems come with customer University accomodates student disabilities for bowling. One morning, about ° a.m., she service. The new sport will help the witnessed what can happen when Flores said that sometimes the BY KATIE BRODERICK Rigler said all people with However, some students athletic department come into bad attitudes collide. main problem is that people fail to news editor disabilities experience prejudice, with invisible disabilities go compliance with the gender- "There was a very long line and realize how their behavior could but people with invisible disabilities through school without outside equity requirements of Title IX, it was taking forever to get things possibly hurt someone's feelings. Invisible disabilities affect may experience more. assistance. officials said. done," Spence said. "There was Flores' assistant director.