In case you’re on the lookout for a clue that Mel Tucker didn’t truly embrace this system rape survivor or advocate Brenda Tracy places on at school campuses everywhere in the nation, look no additional than his response to being referred to as out in public for his conduct.
USA Right now’s Kenny Jacoby, who initially broke the story that Tracy filed a Title IX criticism for sexual harassment in opposition to Tucker in December, reported as we speak that Tucker had allegedly made false, and deceptive statements to Michigan State College’s outdoors investigator, Rebecca Leitman Veidlinger.
Along with making an inaccurate assertion about the place he was on the time he made a name to Tracy, which Tucker admits concerned him masturbating and which in the end led Tracy to file the Title IX criticism, Tucker claimed that he, and Tracy had been in a romantic relationship, which Tracy denies. In accordance with USA Right now, after that decision, Tucker, and Tracy didn’t communicate to one another for months.
In the meantime, their assistants had been planning Tracy’s third go to to campus — an in-person coaching with coaches and gamers scheduled for July 25.
Tucker canceled that coaching three days earlier than, the investigation report reveals. When Tracy spoke to him by telephone on Aug. 2 searching for to search out out why, she would inform the investigator in her interview that Tucker insinuated he would hurt her profession if she spoke about his conduct. He by no means rescheduled her go to, they usually by no means spoke once more.
In a public assertion denying any wrongdoing, Tucker denied canceling Tracy’s upcoming presentation, claiming that he “by no means canceled any presentation.” Tucker went on in charge the postponement of the presentation on personnel and scheduling points, saying Tracy “selected to file her criticism as a substitute of continuing with the coaching.”
However based on Jacoby, Tucker informed Veidlinger one thing fully totally different.
When Veidlinger requested in his March interview if he had a job in canceling Tracy’s go to, Tucker mentioned, “Sure, completely I did,” the report reveals, and that he didn’t recall any discussions about rescheduling Tracy for January. Such timing wouldn’t make sense, he added, as a result of most of his new gamers wouldn’t but be on campus.
However maybe probably the most jaw-dropping reporting in Jacoby’s piece comes from the revelation that Tucker not solely blamed Tracy for gossiping about his marriage, and allegedly telling others that his relationship together with his spouse was “on the rocks,” but additionally claimed that ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, who incessantly covers sexual assault in school soccer, was “investigating how Tracy ‘goes about her enterprise’ by claiming to be a rape survivor.” Lavigne, nevertheless, informed USA Right now “Neither the group nor Tracy is or has been the goal of any investigative reporting.”
What makes all of Tucker’s claims so exhausting to swallow is that, for a while, he introduced himself to Tracy as a supporter of her trigger, as one of many uncommon males who “bought it” when it got here to sexual assault and misconduct. That he actually understood why so many ladies don’t report sexual assault, Particularly, that they concern they received’t be believed.
But when Tucker discovered himself among the many accused, he restored to the identical ways that maintain so many ladies quiet to start with. He referred to as her a liar, steered that she had ulterior motives, and claimed that she made false allegations in an effort to acquire a giant payday. And anyway, even when her claims are true, the entire thing was consensual as a result of they had been in a relationship. And anyway, he intimates, the place’s the proof she’s even a rape survivor within the first place?
Sounds awfully acquainted.
It’s the identical playbook highly effective males use each time they’re accused of sexual misconduct. The accuser is a liar, in all probability loopy. Who is aware of why she’s accusing him of sexual misconduct? However she’s undoubtedly after cash. Or scorned. Or simply jealous of one other girl in his life. The faces and names change, however the allegations in opposition to the accuser are all the time the identical. It could be laughable in that case many younger males didn’t purchase it hook, line, and sinker. And it essentially impacts the way in which too many in our society view sexual assault. The explanation the #MeToo motion was so groundbreaking was not that so many ladies made allegations in opposition to highly effective males, however that so many individuals believed thew girls. And even that was largely as a result of they got here ahead in massive teams in opposition to the identical man.
A lone girl going up in opposition to a strong well-known man is aware of what she’s in for. Being dragged on-line by complete strangers who declare her to be a liar, regardless of figuring out virtually nothing about what truly occurred. In all probability threats to her security. Probably having to go away her house Undoubtedly having her title dragged by the mud. And that’s earlier than we even get to the psychological toll coming ahead takes on the sufferer.
If there’s one man who pretended to be an agent for change, a supporter of #BelieveWomen, however resorted to the identical outdated tropes the minute he was the one within the crosshairs, it’s Mel Tucker. And disgrace on him.
