The University of Idaho has settled a federal lawsuit filed by a former student-athlete who claimed her allegations of sexual assault were improperly handled by school officials.
As reported by KXLY, the State of Idaho will pay Mairin Jameson $160,000 and her lawsuit against the university will be dismissed.
In 2013, Jameson was on the Vandals' swim and dive team. Her complaint began with several encounters that year with a football player named Jahrie Z. Level, who she says confronted her on multiple occasions with aggressive sexual advances, all of which she refused. She also witnessed Level harassing and intimidating another student who refused his actions. That student told football coach Paul Petrino, who "didn't really care," according to the complaint.
Jameson also said Level reached under her skirt and sexually assaulted her at a Moscow bar. That incident was reported to an athletics coordinator for the swim team, who called Moscow Police. Police reported the sexual assault and harassment to Petrino and then-athletic director Rob Speer, who allegedly never reported it to the Dean of Students.
At a meeting with Jameson, Spear and Petrino reportedly told her the university could not investigate her sexual assault because it occurred off campus, which was false.
Level was charged with misdemeanor battery and dismissed from the football team in May 2013. Spear, who had been on administrative leave for years as the university looked into Jameson’s case, was fired on August 16, 2018.
Jameson went public about her experience in a blog post in 2018 and filed the federal lawsuit shortly thereafter, KXLY reported.
According to a university release, Jameson is planning to work alongside the university’s new athletic director, Terry Gawlik, to further improve the culture within the athletic department, as well as the college experience for all student-athletes.
“I am committed to providing the leadership needed to continue to improve the culture inside Vandal Athletics, and to educate and train our coaches, staff and student-athletes so our athletes have the best possible college experience in their studies, in their competition and in their personal growth,” said Gawlik. “I welcome a partnership with Mairin in these efforts. She was a fine student and a conference champion athlete at the University of Idaho. Her willingness to work with our current student-athletes and work with the Athletic Department speaks volumes of her character and bravery.”
Jameson plans to visit campus in the coming months to talk with student-athletes.
“I am proud to see the positive changes that have taken place at Idaho since coming forward with my story,” Jameson said. “I am impressed with their hiring of Terry as the new athletic director. I know that she carries the same sentiments as I do to continue to make positive changes at the university. I am looking forward to working with her to further improve the University of Idaho and will continue to help raise national awareness to these campus issues.”
