Michigan State University denies that it discouraged a female student from reporting that she’d been raped by three MSU basketball players in 2015. The victim in the alleged attack has accused MSU counselors of cautioning her against reporting the rape to authorities.
"The media has taken these allegations about MSU's response to her assault as established fact," read a statement that was reported on by the Detroit Free Press. "Unfortunately, they are untrue." The statement also said that the athletic department, as well as coach Tom Izzo, were unaware of the assault allegation.
The lawsuit, which was filed on Monday, alleges three players, identified only as John Doe 1, 2 and 3, encountered the victim, identified as Jane Doe, at a bar a week after the team’s Final Four loss in April of 2015. The suit claims that one of the players offered to buy the woman a drink, then invited her to a party at an apartment after “lying” to her, suggesting that her roommate was on the way to the party. After arriving at the apartment, the woman realized there was no party. She tried to send a text message, but had a difficult time controlling her thumbs, believing herself to have been drugged.
The suit claims each of the three players took turns raping her. The woman claims she was not advised to have a physical exam, seek medical treatment or have STD or pregnancy tests. The suit also alleges she was not notified of her federal Title IX rights, protections, and accommodations. MSU denies all of these claims.
