Responding to reports concerning insufficient handling of sexual assault complaints, female lawmakers on Wednesday criticized Louisiana State University (LSU) President Tom Galligan for his decision not to fire employees accused of sexual misconduct.
During an all-day hearing at the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children, legislators slammed the university over its decision to only briefly suspend employees accused of sexual harassment, domestic abuse, and rape.
At Capitol for a hearing about LSU severely mishandling sexual misconduct. This is frustrating/sickening because we’ve been here before! In 2014-15 while in Legis, @JPMorrell and I worked on increased policies/mandates to protect students. Now it’s clear, these weren’t followed. pic.twitter.com/X4PwL0XQp4
— Helena Moreno (@HelenaMorenoLA) March 10, 2021
The meeting follows a report by a law firm hired by the school reviewing its handling of sexual misconduct and discrimination complaints. The detailed report shows insufficient responses and too few resources allocated to complaints.
“I’m kind of just dumbfounded. I’m sad. I’m disgusted. I’m so disappointed in LSU, and I continue to be disappointed with the response that we’re getting right now,” Baton Rouge Republican Paula Davis said. “It’s just not enough.”
Other lawmakers have called LSU’s disciplinary decisions a “direct insult” and a “slap in the face” for victims. Some even compared the university administration and athletic department to an “organized crime ring.”
‘They Were Put in Positions That Were Impossible for Them’
Galligan, while attempting to defend the penalties, only said that they “lacked direction” while promising to do the right thing moving forward. He explained that the college is working on a new office that will handle such complaints in the future and increase spending on such investigations.
Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry and Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar have been accused of mishandling sexual misconduct reports regarding employees. Galligan defended them, saying, “They were put in positions that were impossible for them.” Also calling the school’s policies “unclear,” he stated, “The employees didn’t understand what their obligation was.”
The criticism comes days after Galligan announced that the university would not fire any employee accused of mishandling sexual assault allegations. Instead, he agreed to suspend Miriam and Segar for less than a month.
Aghast at Galligan’s decision not to revoke his judgement, lawmakers implored him a second time to reconsider. “If you’re going to remain as president, we have to trust that you’re going to make the right decisions. I’m not sure if that’s happening right now,” Democrat leader Karen Carter Peterson remarked. Galligan, however, did not indicate any change of position.
“Where is the justice for victims?” Davis asked, “LSU failed them. I feel immense disappointment and sadness right now.”