Tenth Circuit Revives University Of Colorado Sex Assault Lawsuit

DENVER (CN) - The 10^th Circuit revived a lawsuit by two women who claimed they were gang-raped at an off-campus party by University of Colorado football players and recruits. The circuit said there was evidence that the university had an official policy of showing football recruits a "good time," and that the alleged assaults in 2001 were caused by the school's failure to adequately supervise players.

Football recruits were paired with female "ambassadors" to show them around campus and "player-hosts" responsible for their entertainment. Some of the recruits who attended the party where the alleged assaults took place had been promised the chance to have sex, the ruling states.

The court said there was ample evidence that CU's recruitment process put women at risk for sexual assault. In 1997 a high-school student was assaulted by recruits at a party hosted by a CU football player. The local district attorney urged school officials to develop a policy for supervising recruits, but CU "did little to change its policies or training," the ruling states.

"Not only was the coaching staff informed of sexual harassment and assault by players, but it responded in ways that were more likely to encourage than eliminate such conduct," Judge Hartz wrote. Amicus curiae for the case include the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP and the Women's Law Project. See ruling.

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