BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana State University (LSU) and ten former students have reached a settlement in a lawsuit that brought attention to the university’s alleged mishandling of sexual assault and domestic violence complaints. This is a significant development that highlights the ongoing battle against sexual misconduct in collegiate athletics. In a March 28 ruling dismissing the case, US District Judge Wendy Vitter wrote that the action, which involved charges against football players and others at Louisiana’s premier public university, has closed with an agreement to settle the disagreements peacefully. The financial and procedural specifics of the agreement remain confidential as the terms of the settlement have not been made public.
The origins of this judicial dispute can be found in a civil lawsuit filed in 2021 by four plaintiffs who charged former LSU standout running back Derrius Guice with sexual misconduct. Former LSU women’s tennis player Jade Lewis gave a moving statement on how the school mishandled her allegations that she had been physically abused by former Tigers WR Drake Davis while they were dating. These accusations exposed the difficulties faced by victims of domestic abuse and sexual misconduct in getting support and justice in college settings.
The enforcement of federal Title IX laws which forbid gender-based harassment, violence, and discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding was at the center of the lawsuit. The case brought to light structural problems with LSU’s handling of these complaints, exposing a pattern of incompetence and concealment that went beyond isolated events to imply a more widespread carelessness culture.
Significant effects of the litigation and its aftermath have been felt outside of the courtroom. Notably, when information about their purported mishandling of allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, former LSU football coach Les Miles and former university president F. King Alexander suffered career repercussions. Miles, who guided LSU from 2005 to 2016 and helped the school win a national championship, lost his job as Kansas’ head coach in 2021. Alexander also lost his position as Oregon State University’s president. These resignations highlight the increasing intolerance for leaders who do not sufficiently address accusations of sexual misconduct.
LSU hired the Husch Blackwell law firm to thoroughly examine the university’s procedures for handling reports of sexual misconduct in reaction to the uproar. A harsh assessment of LSU’s Title IX compliance efforts was provided in a 148-page study that was published in 2021. It showed a lack of dedication to resolving sexual misconduct and a propensity to oppose rather than assist people who came forward with claims. Notably, coach Ed Orgeron, who guided the team to a national championship in 2019, was one among the nine players accused of sexual misconduct or physical abuse in the report, which did not spare the athletic department.
The Husch Blackwell findings triggered introspection and criticism of LSU’s administration rather than its coaching staff, highlighting that sexual misconduct charges should be handled by Title IX compliance officers rather than coaches, who often lack the appropriate experience. Following these disclosures, LSU suspended senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar and deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry for allegedly mishandling several complaints.
This deal emphasizes how important it is for colleges to provide a safe environment for all students and is a turning point for both LSU and perhaps collegiate athletics nationally. The case and its outcome highlight the necessity of strict adherence to Title IX regulations and the proactive help that educational institutions should provide to victims of sexual misconduct. The broader consequences for policy change and the culture of collegiate athletics are still unknown as LSU and other universities consider this issue.
In addition, the LSU case has rekindled conversations about the power struggles that occur in collegiate athletics and the pressing need for accountability, openness, and a change in the way colleges value student safety over athletic achievement. Although this legal chapter comes to an end with the settlement, it leaves open the possibility of continued campaigning and reform initiatives meant to guarantee the safety of no student.
Looking ahead, the LSU community and others following the case concentrate on how the university will make adjustments to avert such tragedies in the future and how the collegiate sports sector as a whole will handle the structural problems brought to light by this legal action. Although the plaintiffs may feel some sense of closure following the case’s settlement, it also serves as a stark reminder of the work still to be done in the battle against sexual misconduct on college campuses.