Ex-Cal star Clarendon alleges abuse in suit
A former star player on the Cal women’s basketball team has filed a civil lawsuit against the regents of the University of California, alleging she was sexually assaulted by an athletic department employee nearly 10 years ago while she was a freshman at the school.
Layshia Clarendon, who attended Cal from 2009 to 2013, stated in the lawsuit — filed Wednesday in Alameda County Superior Court — that Mohamed Muqtar sexually assaulted her in his apartment during the 20092010 school year. Muqtar was named as a defendant in the suit.
According to the claim, Muqtar, Cal’s assistant director of student services, invited Clarendon back to his apartment to watch a jazz concert video. Clarendon had met Muqtar, a school employee since August 1992, when she was being recruited by Cal while she was attending high school in Southern California.
The suit says at one point, Clarendon, then 18, excused herself to use the restroom, and as she was using the toilet, Muqtar opened the door and assaulted her.
ESPN first reported the details of the suit, which claims negligence on the part of the UC regents and Muqtar.
Clarendon, who now plays for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA, tweeted Wednesday that, “Regarding the news today: I want the shame to not be my own anymore, because it’s not my shame to carry, but it’s something that I’ve had to carry. It’s a horrible thing to live in silence, to carry that pain and that weight and the guilt.”
The complaint stated that Clarendon’s injuries — which includes severe mental pain, shock and depression — were delayed until the spring of 2017.
“I can tell you what happened to Ms. Clarendon is reprehensible,” Jennifer Bandlow, an associate attorney with The Cochran Firm’s Los Angeles office representing Clarendon, said Wednesday about
the suit. “There are consequences for sexual assault against women.”
Bandlow said Clarendon did not speak about this to anyone during her time at the university.
The Cal athletics department issued a statement Wednesday saying the school is aware of the complaint but has not received a copy of the lawsuit “nor had the benefit of reviewing the allegations.”
“Our department policy states that once anyone in Cal athletics is made aware of any instance or allegation of a violation of university policy involving a coach, staff member or student-athlete, those matters are referred to the appropriate departments on campus responsible for investigating them. Athletics does not have its own specific conduct process nor does it investigate allegations or cases on its own, but follows the university’s policy and works in concert with campus professionals who are responsible for those areas.
“All university staff are also required to complete
sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training, and those programs have increased in recent years. Cal athletics is and will always be committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels safe, welcome and respected. We encourage anyone who is feeling distressed or troubled to contact the PATH to Care Center and other campus resources.
“Layshia holds a special place in our history for her contributions to Cal women’s basketball both on and off the court and we are saddened to hear of the allegations that are coming to light today.”
Clarendon helped Cal reach the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2013 in her senior season.
“My biggest hope is that he never does this to anyone else,” Clarendon tweeted. “That no one else has to suffer under his hand, or him violating their bodies again. That this would be the end of him assaulting people.”