Michigan State University almost gave former head football coach Mel Tucker the harshest possible sanctions after disciplining him for sexual misconduct. On Friday, January 19, Michigan State permanently banned Tucker from any future employment or affiliation with the college.
Not that it was highly likely it would happen again anyway, given that he was for cause in late September. The sanctions, effective immediately, constitute his formal punishment after a campus investigation found him guilty of sexually harassing Brenda Tracy.
Tracy is a rape survivor and prominent activist against sexual violence whom he had hired to speak to his team. He is banned from seeking employment at the university. However, school officials chose not to forbid Tucker from setting foot on campus or attending Spartans sporting events.
Still, enforcing such a ban on Tucker will be complex. Especially if another school hires him and his new team has to play a game against the Spartans. In such a scenario, Michigan State would have to be willing and ready to arrest him.
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David Ring, a California-based attorney who represents sexual abuse survivors, said: “I could see why they maybe didn’t want to go that far, and they just kept it kind of broad.
‘You’re never going to work here again, and you can’t go out there saying you’re somehow affiliated with us.’ That seems reasonable.” “As a result of the finding of fault in the university’s relationship violence and sexual misconduct investigation involving Mr. Tucker.
The university has decided to restrict future employment at Michigan State University (paid or unpaid) and also prevent any future affiliation with the university,” Michigan State spokesperson Emily Guerrant said in an email.
In a complaint, Tracy said Tucker jerked off without her consent during a phone call in April 2022. It was the culmination of what she called months of unwanted sexual advances. Tucker told the school’s outside investigator he and Tracy developed a romantic relationship and engaged in consensual phone sex.
Michigan State suspended Tucker without pay on September 10, hours after Tracy went public with her allegations. A week after, athletic director Alan Haller chose to fire Tucker for cause.
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According to Haller in his termination letter, even Tucker’s acknowledged conduct was enough reason to fire him. “It is decidedly unprofessional and unethical to flirt, make sexual comments, and masturbate while on the phone with a University vendor,” the letter reads.
“The unprofessional and unethical behavior is particularly egregious given that the Vendor at issue was contracted by the University for the sole purpose of educating student-athletes on, and preventing instances of, inappropriate sexual misconduct.”
It took eight months of investigation and formal hearing before MSU’s outside resolution officer, Amanda Norris Ames, reached a conclusion. Tucker’s account was less plausible, less consistent, and less supported by the evidence than Tracy’s.
By a preponderance of the evidence, Ames determined Tucker violated the school’s sexual misconduct policy for his conduct during the now-infamous phone call and in the months leading up to it.
The officer also determined Tucker engaged in quid pro quo sexual harassment following the call when he ended Tracy’s business relationship with the university for rejecting his advances.
Tucker appealed the decision. However, an outside appeal officer hired by the school denied his appeal on January 11, ruling that the investigation and Ames’ conclusions were fair and reasonable.
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Tucker has indicated he will sue Michigan State for wrongful termination but is yet to file a suit. He believes himself the victim in this case and has gone above and beyond to make people see that.
Unfortunately, he has only succeeded in burning his bridges and making things worse. Universities will think twice before hiring him because of his baggage, and his reputation may never recover.
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