Jameis Winston and his rape accuser were not the only big players in one of the highest-profile scandals in NCAA history. Florida State University was a major part of the story, and just reached a historic settlement with Erica Kinsman, the woman who accused Winston of raping her in 2012.
FSU has agreed to pay Kinsman $950,000 to settle her Title IX lawsuit alleging “indifference to a student’s reported sexual assault.” In settling, FSU did not admit wrongdoing in how they handled the case.
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“We have an obligation to our students, their parents and Florida taxpayers to deal with this case, as we do all litigation, in a financially responsible manner,” university president John Thrasher said (via USA Today). “With all the economic demands we face, at some point it doesn’t make sense to continue even though we are convinced we would have prevailed.”
Here are some things you should know about the case, and the settlement.
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It’s Historic
The $950,000, which covers Kinsman’s legal fees, is the biggest payout ever for a Title IX lawsuit alleging indifference to a reported sexual assault. FSU also has to make a five-year commitment to raising awareness of sexual assault on campus, creating measures to prevent them, and training.
The Police Messed Up During Their Investigation
The Tallahassee police bungled the Kinsman investigation from the jump; or, some might say deliberately to protect Winston’s interests. Scott Angulo admitted that he did not seek enough information following the report of the incident, and called Winston before trying to set up a meeting, rather than surprising him, per USA Today.
FSU Added A Title IX Coordinator Position, And Six Related Jobs
The university kicked off the “kNOw More” campaign, and hired a Title IX director tasked with educating the student body as well as faculty about “the meaning of consent, prevention, intervention,” and give victims like Kinsman a place to turn.
Winston Won The National Championship, And The Heisman Trophy
Winston threw 40 touchdowns against 10 interceptions while playing under the intense spotlight of this investigation. He won the Heisman Trophy, and led the Seminoles to an unbeaten season that culminated with a 34-31 thriller in the National Championship over Auburn. It was the final BCS Championship Game before the NCAA instituted the College Football Playoff.
His win wasn’t without controversy. While he did win by a large margin, his name didn’t even appear on 115 of the possible 900 ballots, per ESPN.
Winston Was Never Charged With Rape
Winston never actually faced rape charges, despite Kinsman’s accusations. The lack of charges were a spark for Kinsman to sue the university, which her lawsuit claims was “deliberately indifferent.” The admitted errors from the Tallahassee police department likely also contributed to the lack of charges.
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