Notre Dame sued for sexual harassment
A lawsuit filed by the law firm Anderson Agostino & Keller, P.C accuses a University of Notre Dame employee of pressuring a male student into a sexual relationship with her daughter and arranging sexual encounters with football and basketball players, according to the South Bend Tribune's Lincoln Wright.
The lawsuit states that the student was also a victim of sexual harassment and racial discrimination by the university. No names are mentioned in the lawsuit but the daughter is noted as an employee of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame was made aware of the allegations and issued a statement from vice president of public affairs and communication Paul Browne.
"The allegations against the University of Notre Dame in the complaint are unfounded, as are gratuitous and unfounded references to 'student athletes' — an allegation that is nothing more than cynical attempt to attract publicity," Browne said.
The firm that is representing the male student suing Notre Dame issued the following statement:
“Today, the University of Notre Dame and one of its academic coaches, a white female, have been sued in State Court by an African American male student who was a victim of a manipulative and predatory scheme in which the academic coach, while employed with the University, pressured him into a sexual relationship with her daughter, a student at a nearby school and an employee of the University as well. The academic coach had a history of arranging multiple sexual liaisons between her daughter and other African-American students, including varsity basketball and football players. When the student repented and began to question the arrangement, he was referred to “counseling” with a friend of the academic coach, another employee at Notre Dame. Throughout this ordeal, efforts were also made to coerce the student into becoming Catholic. The entirety of the situation, with supporting evidence, and a demand for relief, was brought to the attention of University officials two weeks ago, but no response has been made. The failure to respond and react reflects a double standard by some at the University, as the objectification would not have been tolerated under any other set of circumstances. The student seeks damages and injunctive relief as a result of the University’s failure in its mission, its breach of its promise to the student’s mother, and a violation of its obligations under Title VI, Title IX, and common law, resulting in the student suffering undue stress, anxiety, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, as well as loss of economic opportunities, and other damages.”
