By Zac Al-Khateeb
@ZacAlKhateeb
Updated at 4:29 p.m. ET
Baylor may have silenced women who alleged they were raped or sexually assaulted by threatening expulsion or, in some cases, threatening to tell their parents about alcohol or drug use, The Associated Press reported Sunday.
According to the AP report, investigators from the Pepper Hamilton law firm found the school's approach to drugs, alcohol and sex may have silenced women who otherwise would have reported sexual assaults. Students can still be expelled for drug and alcohol use, though the school recently included amnesty for students who commit minor offenses.
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Chad Dunn, who represents six women who are suing Baylor in a Title IX lawsuit, said his victims were coerced not to pursue their claims of rape or sexual assault.
"A number of victims were told that if they made a report of rape, their parents would be informed of the details of where they were and what they were doing," Dunn said.
Dunn did not allow his clients to be interviewed by AP, but did relay its questions to them. Two of the women said they were pushed to accept alcohol conduct violations when they reported their assaults.
Another woman said she called police to report a physical assault of another woman at an off-campus party, only for them to arrest her for underage drinking. She was reported to the school office that investigates conduct code violations and, once there, told school officials she drank as a result of being raped a month earlier. She detailed to them what happened in person and via letter.
She received an alcohol code violation and was told to do 25 hours community service. Baylor never pursued her claims.
"I was told by many Baylor staff that they couldn't do anything for me because my assault was off campus," the woman said, "yet they had no problem punishing me for my off-campus drinking."
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Baylor has already dismissed former football coach Art Briles and several football staffers because of the rape scandal, while accepting the resignation of athletic director Ian McCaw and president/chancellor Ken Starr.
Baylor is accused of being negligent or dismissive of at least six women who claimed they were raped by Bears football players — including Shawn Oakman, Sam Ukwuachu and Tevin Elliott — from 2009 through April 2016.
