Another college sex scandal, another payout. No deterrents and no lessons learned.

Last month, San Jose State agreed to pay $1.6 million 13 female student athletes who made reports to faculty about suffering sexual assault from an athletic trainer. The university president has resigned in recognition of the school’s failure to properly protect its students.

The accused is San Jose State’s then Director of Sports Medicine, Scott Shaw. Initial reports dating back to 2006 document complaints of Shaw inappropriately touching at least 23 female-student athletes in his care. Victims said they were repeatedly subjected to unwelcome fondling of their breasts, buttocks, and pubic areas by Shaw. The abuse is said to have taken place on the school’s campus. Shaw resigned in 2020 after allegations resurfaced, but has not faced any charges as of yet.

In a sadly “all too familiar” scenario, whistleblowers who expressed concern for the university’s handling of the incident were punished. After overhearing athletes refer to Shaw as a “Creep” and discussing his actions, a swim coach went to his superiors, and discovered that previous complaints were not thoroughly investigated and swept under the rug. After bringing this to the attention of the NCAA, administrators ordered his superior to discipline the swim coach. When the superior refused and consulted a lawyer on the legality of such an action, his role was terminated at the school.

After a federal investigation was opened under Title IX, the previous 23 student complaints were rediscovered. Investigators lambasted the school for not only allowing Shaw to continue working with students, but also found the two whistleblower firings to be retaliatory.

What is happening with these schools, where abusers escape any culpability for their actions, yet those seeking justice and to protect the innocent are the only ones punished? What can be done to protect vulnerable young people, making their first steps into adulthood, only to be met with unwanted advancements and abuse? Why did the administrators of San Jose State choose to protect a PREDATOR, over his PREY? Student athletes who want only to bring victory and accolades to their alma mater, hung out to dry by those they sought to exalt.

Organizations have shown repeatedly that their concern lay not with the victims of abuse, but with protecting the institution’s reputation. Botched internal investigations, failure to inform local law enforcement, retribution firings for whistleblowers...the same old song and dance, so familiar it could be recited from memories of previous scandals. It is again time for our repeated call: The only defense we can count on is to stand up for ourselves.

Anonymous reporting is the only method that grants power back to victims, allowing them speak their truth loudly without fear of retribution. To be heard, to seek justice, and to protect further victimization.

Abuse thrives in darkness. Be a light in the dark. “It’s Anonymous”