UNM’s Davie, Krebs can’t downplay sexual assault
It is more than a little disturbing that University of New Mexico head football coach Bob Davie said last week that the recurring sexual assault investigations involving his players are “frustrating.”
Because his frustrations are the least of UNM’s, his players’ and the accusers’ worries. A guy who spent a decade as a television commentator should have a better vocabulary.
For at least the fourth time since 2014, a Lobo football player is under investigation for sexual assault. As Davie pointed out at the news conference last week with Athletics Director Paul Krebs — which was called to announce a reduction in ticket prices — an accusation is just an accusation until investigators disprove them or file criminal charges.
He’s right. And he should have quit while he was ahead. Because saying it’s “frustrating” for coaches, players and the athletics department to have to deal with such accusations and investigations seems at best cavalier and at worst callous toward possible victims, the university community, Metro area residents and the Department of Justice.
Davie also said the entire department works to educate players. Part of that education, in this case, apparently involves not only encouraging the accused to “be totally forthright” and “totally transparent,” but also to stay away from the accuser. Krebs added the education is constant, and includes emphasizing to coaches and players the importance of being good citizens and good representatives of the university.
“Sexual assault, sexual violence on a college campus is a major issue,” Krebs said. “It’s not unique to the University of New Mexico. It is front and center on every campus. All of our coaches, all our athletes — I hope — know it’s unacceptable.” Unacceptable? It’s criminal!
Krebs is correct in saying that sexual assault is not unique to UNM. But UNM is being monitored by the DOJ for the next three years after an investigation determined the university was doing a poor job of handling cases of sexual assault and sexual misconduct — and that monitoring is unique.
UNM spent two years revamping how it handles sexual assault and harassment for the DOJ and now provides “comprehensive and effective” training on its revised campus policies, as well as adequately investigating “all allegations of sexual harassment, including allegations of retaliation for reporting sexual harassment.”
It defies credulity that Davie would then use the word “frustrating” and treat the issue of sexual assault allegations as lightly as his words at the news conference seemed to indicate — an annoyance taking the spotlight away from a price cut to try to fill the stands.
UNM is under the microscope when it comes to sexual assault and Davie should realize that, each time he speaks on the issue, it provides a learning opportunity. The lesson from last week is to choose your words carefully.