Local reporter says former Minnesota AD sexually harassed her
Amelia Rayno, a reporter at the MinneapolisStar Tribune, says she was sexually harassed by former University of Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague, who resigned on Friday after two additional reports of sexual harassment surfaced.
Rayno published her account on the Star Tribune's website on Sunday. In the article, she describes unwanted text messages and physical contact received from Teague in 2013.
Rayno interacted with Teague through her job as the Star Tribune's college basketball reporter, but wrote that he made advances on her after learning she had broken up with her boyfriend. He began repeatedly texting her and inviting her to go out for drinks.
In April 2014, Rayno told her editors and the human resources department about the encounters, but decided not to file a formal complaint.
Teague has not texted Rayno since August 2014, she wrote.
On Friday, school officials at Minnesota announced that Teague would resign after sexually harassing two non-student university employees. Teague told KARE 11's Jana Shortal that he sent inappropriate texts after consuming alcohol and that he would be “reevaluating [his] life and career.”
Beth Goetz, the school's deputy athletic director and senior women's administrator, was named the interim athletic director.
"I am disappointed to learn of an additional report of sexual harassment against the former director of Gopher Athletics," Minnesota president Eric Kaler said. "Our commitment to ensuring a healthy learning, working and living environment at the University extends beyond our faculty, staff, and students. I deeply regret to now learn that a reporter covering the University was also subject to this type of deplorable behavior and I extend a sincere apology to Ms. Rayno."
- Erin Flynn and Scooby Axson
