SEC Student-Athlete was Abused then Betrayed by LSU
Welcome to Season 10, Episode 7, of the ParentingAces Podcast.
Before I go any further, please know this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence toward a female college tennis player as described by her father. Please use discretion when listening or viewing in the presence of children.
I highly encourage you to watch the video version of this week's podcast which you can find here:
In January of 2017, Jade Lewis arrived on the LSU campus to begin her life as a college student and member of the LSU Women's Tennis Team. After sitting at the top of the Junior Rankings for her recruiting class on TennisRecruiting.net, she was offered a full scholarship and an agreement that, if she played on the LSU Women's Tennis Team for at least one semester, she could pursue a professional career then return to complete her degree at LSU at a later date at no cost to her. It was a great offer that aligned with Jade's dreams of becoming a professional tennis player.
Just a few short weeks later, Jade's dream turned into a nightmare. She had formed a relationship with a member of LSU's football team, a relationship that would prove dangerous and threatening to Jade's physical and emotional health. In May of 2017, Jade reported to the LSU women's tennis athletic trainer that this football player had physically assaulted her. Presumably, Jade assumed the athletic trainer would follow NCAA protocol and file a report with his superiors as well as LSU's Title IX officer as required by law. However, it now appears that did not happen.
In this week's podcast (again, I urge you to watch the video version on ParentingAces.com and read the complete show notes), you will hear Jade's father, David Lewis, explain how the violence perpetrated against Jade by the LSU football player escalated while the LSU Women's Tennis Coaches and other athletic and academic staff who knew about it sat by and did nothing to protect Jade nor punish the football player. You will hear details of the violent incidents and the frustration of a parent helpless to rescue his daughter. Below is a timeline of events as they unfolded as well as a list of media articles investigating these events.
My hope is you will watch this podcast, read through the timeline and articles on ParentingAces.com, then do whatever you can to help us prevent anything remotely resembling these incidents from ever happening again.
Our plan is to do another podcast with Title IX and Clery Act experts to help all of us understand the laws put in place to protect college students.
That some students still fall through the cracks of these laws is inconceivable, especially when it involves violence against those same students.
That the perpetrators of the violence are permitted to not only remain on campus but also continue to receive scholarship money and compete on athletic teams is appalling.
That the Tennis Coaches themselves did not protect their player is unfathomable.
That the Athletic Department and University employees who were aware of the abuse - and did not report it through proper channels nor ensure the safety of the victims - have not been held accountable goes against all reason.
ParentingAces will continue to inform parents and is working to establish better systems to protect our children on college campuses.
Note: ParentingAces reached out to the LSU Women's Tennis Coaches for comment and an opportunity to come on the podcast. The coaches did not respond. Mike and Julia Sell are still the LSU Women's Tennis Co-Head Coaches as of publication.
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