A TITLE IX Investigation involving the Women?s Basketball Program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University June 30, 2017 STATEMENT OF THE ALLEGATIONS On February 3, 2017, Elliott Charles, Deputy Athletic Director, forwarded an email to the Director of Equal Opportunity Programs/Title IX Administrator. The author of the email was not identi?able. Charles, with Athletic Director Milton Overton?s approval, requested that the BOP Of?ce investigate since the author mentioned possible Title IX violations. The email read: ?Thanks for your response _on January 17, 2017. Accountability [cannot] be denied when you are being made aware of all the abuse of power of Coach [LeDawn] Gibson and Coach [LaTasha] Ganus. The information of how they bully and verbally abuse the players will soon hit the newspaper and FAMU will not be able to hide behind policy. That appears to be a common theme when complaints are brought to the attention of the athletic director of?ce. The of?ce likes to refer to policy, but sooner or later that will not help the situation. The of?ce continues to allow the behavior of the women?s coaching staff and eventually the of?ce will be held accountable. FYI the coaching staff has dismissed two players based on their dislike of their sexual orientation .a violation of Title 9, only because the of?ce likes to throw aroundpolicy. I can not waituntil this hits the newspaper and how the athletic of?ce will continue to condone the bad behavior of the women?s coaching staff. The of?ce should really be embarrassed for not protecting and putting the interest of the players ?rst. So, what policy allows them to violate Title The university?s Title IX administrator responded to the anonymous complainant, via email, on February 6, 2017. The Title IX administrator informed the anonymous author that the Of?ce of Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP) Would investigate the allegations but the contents of the investigation would not be provided to an anonymous source. The anonymous author was ensured that the allegations were being taken seriously and if he or she would like to discuss the allegations with the inVestigator that would be acceptable. On February 7, 2017, the anonymous complainant replied: ?Thank you for your response. I will come forward in due time. The reason behind the anonymous reporting is to protect the young women on the basketball team from further retaliation. The abusive behavior has continued for so long and to be honest at this point no one trust the process.? The anonymous complainant provided names and situations to assist in the investigation. The allegations were: '6 ?Players?receive preferential treatment for babysitting 'for'Coach Ganus; 0 Coach Gibson is ?telling players to get the fuck out of her face? and she is sick of them. 0 Coach Gibson told an individual last year that the women and men?s basketball teams do not stay in the same hotel because the women are a bunch of ?hoes/whores.? 0 Players were left on campus for the holidays as a punishment without making sure the students were safe. This was done during Thanksgiving and Christmas. After responding to the anonymous complainant, the BOP Of?ce contacted the athletic department to ?nd out if any student-athletes from women?s basketball had expressed prior concerns. The anonymous complainant stated there were student-athletes and parents who had met with the athletic administration regarding concerns. The Deputy Athletic Director and the special assistant to the Athletic Director provided separate lists of student-athletes and parents who had met with a member of the athletic administration in the past year. The BOP Of?ce made contact ?rst with the student-athletes who had expressed concerns to the administration. This included young ladies dismissed from the program and/or had conferenced (with or without their parents) with the athletic administration. The AD informed the BOP Director/Title IX Administrator that none of the parents or students expressed same-sex concerns when they spoke with him. The Title IX Administrator contacted the remainder of the team at a later time. The student-athletes cited in this report are the ones who wanted to go on record. who She was on scholarship states she had some problems. .However, she states states is one of the coaches? favorites. - states the team she was mad and had an attitude. Coach Gibson It is rumored, states -,that Coach Gibson states states no one said anything directly to her about the relationship. scholarship was not renewed did not respond to attempts to contact her by this investigator. - states the coaches would gossip about players to their teammates. Gossip included comments about hair weave and relationships with boys. Additionally, - believes players that were recruited by former assistant coach Erik Rashad are dealt with because they still have contact with Rashad. I I During the course of the investigation and after IGibson left - Gibson talked - Ganus put her hands 0 Gibson violated FERPA talked to me about other kids? grades and sexual orientation ICoaeh Chatman stated - 0 Gibson called the girls? ?hoes? - Al snidely 0 Coaches throw chairs and clipboards - Gibson told me not to let who is suspected of being ?gay? IGanus? Favorites: Ganus has - When this investigator spoke to Although she did not mention Much of what states, based on the conversation It 1s alleged by - that Gibson told her that if - gets involved in a same sex relationship, - would be kicked off the team and would be called The requesting to ?le a complaint against the female coaches of women?s basketball. had recently been informed that her scholarship (grant-in?aid) would not be renewed. The alleged the following: 0 Gibson renewed the scholarship of others who were failing the same opportunity. 0 Everyone recruited by Coach Erik Rashad was dismissed. If the girls are seen talking to Rashad, they are benched- Rashad is now the special assistant to the Athletic Director. 0 Gibson has no control over the girls, she stopped checking curfew. Never in her of?ce, doesn?t run her practices, impossible to contact. 0 Gibson told shouldn?t hang with gay players. Gibson personally told her. That type of behavior was unwarranted unprofessional. She also several occasions! Those actions are a form of bullying! states, . No one did anything. .We signed but Gibson never called us to tell us a??er meeting with the Title IX Administrator. alleges: 0 Assistant Coach Andrea Johnson stated in a meeting with Gibson that she did not like .Gibson embarrassed ?That same week Gibson responded, 0 Gibson would not speak to me when she saw me on campus. When I asked her about it, she would simply state that she had not seen me. 0 Ganus was too involved in our personal lives, states -. Ganus allegedly messaged of the teammate. .In front of my teammates, (D ?13 ll (D Q. FF- U.) (-P- E, (D 9.. p?RESPONSE TO THE ALLEGATIONS Coaches Gibson, Ganus and Johnson were interviewed several times. In regards to the allegations from the anonymous complainant, Ganus states that have baby sat her son. ?No one was paid and it only occurred once,? states Ganus. ?People thought - was my favorite,? states Ganus, ?she always talked to me. The coaches state the As it relates to verbal abuse, Gibson states she did not tell the ?fuck out of my face? nor has she called the girls ?whores.? Gibson states she is not perfect but she stopped using profanity ever year ago when she began dating?! minister. Gib?0_11 else__i_n?i_sts thatshe hes not bullied or abused the players. Assistant Coaches Ganus and Johnson also deny allegations of verbal abuse and bullying towards the student-athletes. Gibson states that some of the student- athletes do not appreciate advice meant to assist. have stressed to the athletes to be cognizant of FDA in public because alumni may-be present and they should not be laying all over their boyfriends in public places,? states Gibson. All of the coaches state they joke with the athletes as well as themselves. Their jokes have included comments about Gibson?s ashy ankles. Their comments to the athletes have included encouragement to present themselves in a positive light. Ganus states she has asked student- athletes, ?Why you didn?t do your hair? Why didn?t you put on some clothes?? The coaches insist they are not ?talking? about the athletes, but they want the athletes to understand that they represent the school. None of the coaches recall Ganus Playing time for student?athletes, the tone of a coach?s voice and constructive criticism are standard decisions and behaviors for coaches, states Johnson. Gibson states that penalizing the athletes every time they broke curfew would not bene?t the team because it is so commonplacer?(IQ Violations: skipping classes, having alcohol in her refrigerator -, 9.. (-9- itLori Goodart, an athletics compliance UJ 1-Goodart states the athletes may appeal the decision. ?When scholarships are non-renewed, a release can be given as soon as the student is notified,? states Goodart. A release allows the athletes to make contact with other schools. In reference to a coach throwing things, Ganus-admits she has slammed her pen down and thrown the dry-erase board, not at anyone; but just for ?effect?. None of the coaches have thrown chairs . . - aS?aHeged; States 'GleOl?lI? Gibson states the residence halls were open, Mattie Trawick, Associate Director for Housing, states, ?Palmetto South and Phase are staffed and open during Thanksgiving and Winter Break.? Trawick states the Housing department works with Athletics at the beginning of each year to ensure that the student-athletes of men and women basketball teams are placed in housing that will be open and staffed during the Holidays, since Housing is aware that the holidays encompass their season. No one has expressed concerns'to Housing, states Trawick. The majority of staff and students are gone during the winter break, but staff is working in the residence halls assigned to the basketball teams. Johnson states that she told Johnson states she also announced, Gibson states she ?wrote up? Johnson for lack of tact. did not handle the situation well,? said Gibson. Ganus also had a response for - that they could not be friends. However, Ganus states she did state that Open was for the recruits and the team and In regards to allegations that we dismissed athletes because they were recruited by former assistant coach Erik Rashad is totally untrue, states Gibson. ?1 have nothing against Erik,? states Gibson, ?students were dismissed for valid reasons.? The same-sex allegation was most disturbing to the head coach. Gibson states she has not told anyone, parent or student, that she dislikes gay people. have a god-sister, god-brother, and god- child that are all gay. I have told the athletes that players are not to date players, coaches are not to date coaches, and coaches are not to date players,? emphasized Gibson. This is part of the Code of Behavior for the team, under the No Interaction Policy. The athletic ?les reveal that all of the student?athletes signed the policy. The policy cites, ?These behaviors are detrimental to the team and are grounds for dismissal.? The coach stated this policy is a preventive measure. ?We don?t just take action against our athletes, we try to talk to them first.? Coach Gibson stated this is her ?rst complaint in 26 years of coaching and ?it hurts.? Additionally, the coaches state that teammates were never told to not associate with each other because of sexual orientation. However, they were concerned about the conduct that was of a non-discriminatory nature being exhibited by some of the athletes. SUPPORTING STATEMENTS states she was present when the entire team was told not to discuss basketball with Rashad. She also states Gibson has told her she does not have the states also that Coach Gibson has expressed her dislike of gay people. ?When she ?nds out you are lesbian, she will ?nd a way to get you off the team.? also states that Gibson has cursed at the players and called them ?bitches.? - was listed as a student-athlete who had expressed concerns to the athletic administration about the women?s basketball program. In support of the coaches, the following statements were made: do not agree about the concerns. I never hear or see my coaches abused anyone on the team verbally or bullying of student athletes. My coaches also did not have any problem against student- athletes involved 1n same sex relationships. I personally did not see them to do anything wrong to me and my teammates.? - ?My name is I have never witnessed or experienced Coach LeDawn Gibson or any of the coaching staff use any verbal abuse, bullying, or discrimination against sexual orientation to any of the players. Coach has always been a loving and caring person to me and others! ?My name is That?s very important to me. My freshman year playing time was withheld from me for the coaches personal reasons I was so lost and I even developed It really hurt me to read the paper and ?nd that someone brought those allegations against the peOple who saved my life. See I know what abuse by coaches really is, and no way could I have stood for another year like that. I feel there is a difference between expecting ?greatness?, and just being mean and ugly. College coaches 'eveiywhere'curse, yell, 'say'she curse?d?AT can?t concur. One thing about LeDawn Gibson and Ganus is they love their players. And they are passionate about what they do. Each and everyone is different but they still love us. As far as the allegations pertaining to same sex, there are players still remaining who sexual orientation is not heterosexual. Even some new kids that signed this year are homosexual. She has never expressed a dislike or discrimination towards any of those people. Her rule is that you don?t date teammates, that?s all I?ve ever really heard from that issue.? ?My name Throughout my time at FAMU as an athlete I have yet to witness or experience any of the following accusations that were being made. As an athlete you are expected to perform not just on the court but also in the classroom and our coaches hold us at a very high academic standard. Myself or my teammates where never verbally abuse or bullied by a coaching staff member. We were given constructive criticism but positive motivation always followed. Same sex relationships were never an issue. Coach Gibson never questioned players who or what kind of relationship they were involved in.? after the initial article about the investigation was printed by the local pape_ when she asked - about Coach Gibson yelling at her, ?She told me to get out of her face. - added the ?fuck? part.? her parents ?took it to this level? ?came up with the same sex? stuff. the BOP Of?ce to state that she does not believe the coaches mistreated anyone. ?They have helped my daughter to be more structured. She is a better, more well?rounded student. My daughter brought Ganus stays on my daughter academically. I can?t say anything negative about Gibson and Ganus,? states would like to start by saying that Coach LaDawn Gibson made me feel as if I where apart of her own family. She was there for me on and off the court. she was a mother away from home. I am proud to say that I am very open with my lesbian sexuality and have been for a very long time. During my visit to Florida University it was no secret that I was gay. But that didn?t change the fact that I was still wanted and recruited by the coaching staff at Florida University. Coach Gibson is very ef?cient, knowledgeable, and diligent when it comes to the game of basketball and coaching. And off the court she was very helpful, amiable, and generous to me. In other words if I needed anything I could call Coach Gibson and if it was in her Power she would be more than willing to help I must say I am very disappointed after reading the article on a coach I?ve known years. The allegations against her are patently absurd- I also am what society calls a ?lesbian?. I must. say during my tenure we have at least half of the players to come through be lesbian. No one ever was released from the team because of sexual orientation. No one ever was bullied or picked on for their sexual orientation. There actually have been some student athletes that were gay and were released either due to either their inability to produce on the court or academic reasons. I honestly believe if Coach Gibson had a history of bullying of ?did not like gay people? we would have experienced this prior to it being up now. For example This obviously means no two players can date or have relations with one another while apart of the team. Another player and I broke that rule. It was very apparent. We had consequences, but we weren?t released from the team or treated any different than anyone else. We knew we were wrong, dealt with the consequences and moved on. I?ve seen coach give players so much leeway. I honestly believe this generation of basketball has changed. It?s not high school. If you are not producing on the court and doing what you have to do as a player in the classroom then you will be released. It?s just that simple. Anytime a player was released I?ve seen Gibson try to help them find another school as well. It was never any hard feelings or had blood. Many people or parents don?t understand that.? ?Upon hearing the news of the alleged conduct of the coaching staff I ?rst re?ected how I felt when I received the news But after the who was hurt, initial shock and once I remembered it was not about me. I spoke with but she indicated FAMU was the best academic, athletic and . She has a group of coaches that make her social situation that could have happened to feel she?s a priority.? The anonymous complainant asked that the investigator speak to -. - had nothing but rave comments for Gibson. ?Coach Gibson is not a coach to me she is my mother the only person my real mother would give permission was her child.? but it was only so much I could do. Coach Gibson is a wonderful person she?s literally heaven sent,? states - 10 Veronica Wiggins, head coach of softball team, and Bria, head women?s basketball coach at Stetson University submitted statements supporting Gibson?s character and professionalism. Wiggins wanted to go on record as saying she has personally seen Gibson?s positive interaction with homosexual student?athletes. . MALE CONCERNS Mr. Terrance Chatman is the third assistant coach for Women?s Basketball. None of the student? athletes and parents complained about Chatman. When Chatman was asked had he witnessed any verbal abuse or same sex issues by the other coaches, he stated he really didn?t know anything. am not around. I?m not in the locker room when they are talking to the kids. I have not seen anything. The kids have told me things,? states Chatman. When questioned about what the student?athletes had told him, he said, ?They wanted to know why they were not playing, why the coaches don?t talk to us, why are we not traveling. I was frustrated too. Off the court, I think I did a good job. I wanted to be supportive to the girls. They were emotionally tired. On court, I don?t think I?ve been that helpful. Last May, players said they dismissed some young ladies due to same sex relationships. I never heard that from the coaches and I did not have ?rsthand knowledge of such. I?m sorry. I don?t know what is going on. We changed our lineup every game. I don?t know why. Maybe they [coaches] communicated among themselves so I don?t know. I couldn?t tell the students anything. I got more information from the kids than the coaches.? Chatman states this year has been challenging for him and dif?cult. When asked if he felt he had been discriminated against based on gender, Chatman provided no response. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Pursuant to University Regulation 10.103(3) (2) De?nition of Discrimination and Harassment. Discrimination shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Limiting, segregating or classifying students, employees, applicants for admission, or applicants for employment, in such a way as to deprive individuals of educational or employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect individuals because of their race, religion, color, age, handicap, disability, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status; 2.- - -Denying-cducationalcr of-their?race, religion, color, age, handicap, disability, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status; 11 3. Providing unequal educational or employment opportunities to individuals because of their race, religion, color, age, handicap, disability, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status; 4. Providing unnecessary separate educational programs or activities for individuals because of race, religion, color, age, handicap, disability, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status; 5. Entering into contractual or other arrangements which utilize criteria or administrative . methods which have the effect of subjecting individuals to discrimination or which otherwise adversely affect individuals because of their race, religion, color, age handicap, disability, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status; 6. The application of any policy or procedure, or taking of any admission or employment action, that adversely affects as student, employee, applicant for admission, applicant for employment, a group of students, or group of employees based on race, religion, color, age handicap, disability, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status. Pursuant to University Regulation 10.103(3) Harassment shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Any slurs, innuendoes, or other verbal or physical conduct re?ecting on an individual?s race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or handicapping condition which has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational or work environment; has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual?s work or school performance or participation; or otherwise adversely affects an individual?s employment or educational opportunities. 2. - The denial of or the provision of aid, bene?ts, grades, rewards, employment, faculty assistance, services, or treatment on the basis of sexual advances or requests for sexual favors. 3. Sexual harassment such as sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual?s employment or educational career; submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for educational or employment decisions affecting the individual; or such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual?s work or educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment. -- 4. - --Sexual-misconductancludmg ex?ual assault,-~ exu mducmg-rncapacrtatrcn?-icr-?- sexual purposes, sexual exploitation, relationship or domestic violence, or stalking. 12, RECOMMENDATION: The same-sex allegations are a protected class issue (sexual orientation) and a'Title IX (gender) matter. The same-sex allegations are a discriminatory matter and falls within the purview of the BOP/Title IX Of?ce. The negative comments against the coaches mainly came from student-athletes that were dismissed and their scholarships non- renewed. The remaining student athletes appear to be satis?ed with the program. Due to the fact an athlete is dismissed does not equate to the allegations being false. Other factors must be taken into consideration. - states told her that added the word, ?fuck? to the allegations to make the allegations appear worse. corroborated to paint the coaches in a bad light. stated there were conduct issues with their teammates, - The anonymous complainant asked that the investigator speak with -, which was done. However, - had nothing but praises for Gibson. There were numerous statements from student-athletes, parents and colleagues that were supportive of Gibson. The same-sex allegation does not rise to the level of discriminatory behavior. It does not appear to be reasonable that a coach who has recruited and continues to recruit student-athletes who are openly homosexual would dismiss student-athletes because of same sex relationships when there is clear evidence that other, non-discriminatory factors impacted the dismissal decisions. Based on the BOP/Title IX investigation, the same-sex allegations are unsubstantiated. The interaction between the female coaches and the sole male coach requires improvement. Although Chatman would not cite discriminatory factors when discussing his relationship with the female coaches, he did state he was not included in what he felt were pertinent matters. Gibson and the other female coaches do not believe they have been discriminatory. The remaining allegations are not based on a protected class issue or Title IX matter, which is the authority by which the BOP Of?ce operates. The remaining allegations fall into the categories of managerial matters, coaching styles and personality con?icts. The verbal abuse and bullying allegations are inconclusive. There are supporting statements citing verbal abuse, as well as statements that such behavior never occurred. There were more witnesses stating that such did not occur. However, being proactive is always a positive move. It is the recommendation of the BOP Of?ce that all coaches within the Athletic Department attend a training dealing with appropriate motivational skills. Additionally, it is within the Athletic Director?s authority to determine if the remaining non-discriminatory allegations are within acceptable standards established by the athletic department. Hopefully, this report will serve as an assistive tool to the athletic director. 13