Students at the University of Idaho are asking for their athletic director to step down following the school’s handling of sexual assault allegations against a U of I football player.
According to a report from a Spokane, Wash., CBS affiliate, the students acknowledge that the school admitted to mistakes made in handling the case but still believe that more accountability is needed.
Catherine Yenne, vice president of ASUI, the school’s student body, drafted the resolution that calls for the firing of athletic director Rob Spear.
Spear was in charge of the botched 2013 investigation into reports from two female athletes that they had been victims of sexual harassment and assault from former football player Jahrie Level. The two women alleged that Spear did not pass along their complaints to the Dean of Students, which would amount to a Title IX violation.
“If we have issues with rape culture and problems with sexual assault and misconduct on this campus, people involved need to be held accountable," Yenne said.
The student body’s resolution amounts to a statement and does not carry any weight. Ultimately, Spear’s fate rests with the university’s administration.
The university put out a statement reaffirming its commitment to following up on sexual harassment claims. Earlier this week, president Chuck Staben reportedly defended Spear at an ASUI meeting, warning the student body of the serious consequences of their request.
