GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A lawsuit filed in federal court alleges Michigan State University counselors discouraged a freshman from reporting a sexual assault to police after learning her three alleged rapists were MSU basketball players.
Court records obtained by 24 Hour News 8 detail the alleged gang rape and alleged negligence by MSU officials to inform the victim of her rights.
The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, was an 18-year-old in her first year studying to be a sports journalist when records say she met members of the MSU basketball team at an East Lansing bar in April 2015, shortly after MSU's elimination from the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
The student athletes are not named in the lawsuit. They are identified as John Doe #1 (JD1), John Doe #2 (JD2) and John Doe #3 (JD3).
The suit alleges JD1 bought her a drink, introduced her to other MSU basketball players at the bar and that she was ultimately invited to a party. She was also reportedly told her roommate was already headed to the party.
"At no time did Plaintiff indicate she had a romantic interest in any of the team members that approached her," the lawsuit states.
Two of the basketball players allegedly drove the woman to an off-campus apartment, at which point she realized her roommate was not there and no party.
She also felt "discombobulated" and "she thought she might have been drugged."
"JD1 pulled Plaintiff into a bedroom and told her 'you are mine for the night,'" court documents allege.
She was able to leave the bedroom when JD2 offered to show her some of his memorabilia in his room after she asked for a glass of water.
"Plaintiff was drinking the water when the room went dark," the lawsuit details. "Plaintiff was forcefully thrown face down on the bed, held in place so she could not move, while JD2 raped Plaintiff from behind. Plaintiff was crying, she could not move, nor could she speak. At no time did she consent to the sexual activity.
"As soon as JD2 finished raping Plaintiff, JD1 and JD3 each came in, also held Plaintiff down and took turns raping her," the documents continue.
The next morning, the student reported what happened to a counselor working at the Michigan State University Counseling Center (MSUCC). The lawsuit says the counselor responded differently to the report once the student said her rapists played for the MSU basketball team.
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