Sex Predator Caught: SJSU Trainer Exposed In Decade-Long Harassment Scandal

SJSU Title IX Scandal

A decade-long pattern of sexual harassment by a San José State University athletic trainer has been exposed, with the university agreeing to pay $1.6 million in financial relief and implement sweeping reforms to its Title IX process.

According to a recent investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the trainer subjected female student-athletes to repeated, unwelcome sexual touching during treatment in campus training facilities, starting in 2009. For over a decade, the university failed to respond adequately to reports of harassment, exposing additional student-athletes to harm.

“No student should be subjected to sexual harassment at a college or university in our country, especially by an employee who wields a position of power,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “With this agreement, San José State University will provide relief to survivors and transform its Title IX process to ensure accountability in its athletics program and create a safer campus for all its students.”

The agreement requires SJSU to significantly improve its process for responding to complaints of sexual harassment, bolster the Title IX Office, and deliver training to student-athletes and SJSU Athletics employees on giving and receiving informed consent for medical treatments and athletic training services.

“The department’s findings provide a stark reminder that schools must respond quickly to protect students from sexual harassment. Title IX requires no less,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds. “We acknowledge the San José State University students and employees whose efforts shined a light on this issue and look forward to working with the university to implement this important agreement.”

The settlement also includes a number of other reforms, including publicizing Title IX policies and protocols, improving the policies and procedures of the SJSU Sports Medicine and Athletics Training Program, and surveying SJSU Athletics employees to assess their understanding of SJSU policies and identify barriers to reporting.

As part of the agreement, SJSU will provide supportive measures and remedies to current and former student-athletes who were sexually harassed by the athletic trainer.

San José State University’s failure to respond to reports of harassment has been a long-standing issue, with female student-athletes reporting repeated, unwelcome sexual touching by the trainer. The university’s inaction has been described as “ineffective” by the Justice Department, which has concluded that the university’s response exposed additional student-athletes to harm.

A number of individuals who were sexually harassed by the trainer have come forward to participate in the department’s investigation, and the university has agreed to provide financial relief totaling $1.6 million to those individuals.

The case highlights the importance of swift and effective action in addressing reports of sexual harassment, and the need for universities to take proactive steps to prevent such abuse of power.

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