The Spark

the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist

“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx

Big Money Trumps Charges of Rape at U of Michigan

Mar 3, 2014

In December 2013, University of Michigan’s starting kicker, Brendan Gibbons, was removed from the team for “violating the university’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy” four years earlier when a woman told police that Gibbons raped her at a frat party in 2009.

A teammate, Taylor Lewan, threatened to rape the woman himself if she pressed charges against Gibbons. The university has taken no action against Lewan.

Why did the university wait so long to act? All the information was there four years ago. While Gibbons was an eligible, productive member of the hugely money-making football team, nothing was done. But now that Gibbons is done playing for the university, they kicked him out.

President Mary Sue Coleman claimed that “athletics had no role in the Gibbons case.” She’s right. Money did. Lots of money.