Oregon Basketball Rape Victim 'Angry' Alleged Attackers Were Kicked Off Team After NCAA Tournament
ByThe anonymous woman who claims three University of Oregon (UO) basketball players sexually assaulted her is not happy with the school and has retained John Clune as her attorney.
Clune represented the woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape and he is currently representing the woman accusing Jameis Winston of rape. He confirmed to the Associated Press Thursday that he sent an open letter to the Daily Emerald, the UO newspaper, on the woman's behalf.
Clune also confirmed the unidentified woman is continuing to take classes at the school.
"The past few months have, undeniably, been the hardest and most challenging time in my life," the woman's letter reads. "This is such an overwhelming experience and one that I hope that no other student on campus ever has to live through."
The letter is the first time she has commented publicly on her complaint, which states she was assaulted the night she met the three players, March 8. In late April, investigators determined there was not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges, but the school kicked the players off the team the following month. Despite knowing of the investigation, UO allowed Dominic Artis and Damyean Dotson to play through the NCAA Tournament while Brandon Austin sat out due to transfer rules.
The woman said she felt like UO waiting until after the basketball tournament to dismiss the players from the team showed they are more committed to athletic success than student safety.
"I know a lot of people are angry. I am angry, too," she wrote. "I am angry with the culture that appears to exist in our athletic department that prioritizes winning over safety of our students. I cannot fathom how our basketball coach recruited someone who was in the middle of a suspension for another sexual assault to come to Eugene."
The woman did say she has received support from the school's Dean of Students office and indicated it was their help that has kept her at the school. Julie Brown, a school spokeswoman, said in a statement obtained by the AP that the UO community will support her however they can.
"There have been many comments made by individuals not directly involved and affected by the alleged incident until today's open letter to the Daily Emerald," Brown said. "We sympathize with the challenging position that she finds herself in and support her right to express herself."