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Baylor ordered to release original sexual assault reports dating back to 2003

Nick Bromberg
·College football and motorsports writer
(Getty)
(Getty)

Baylor will have to make public the original copies of all university reports of sexual assault dating back to 2003.

A judge assigned to the class-action Title IX suit against the school made the ruling Wednesday night according to the Waco Tribune. Ten women’s names are on the suit. They all allege Baylor mishandled their allegations of sexual assault from their time at the university.

Baylor said it would release general information about the assaults, but the judge said the generality would “almost completely undercut” their worth. From the Tribune:

“The judge is again exhibiting that he’s very thoughtful and deliberate in his decisions,” said Waco attorney Jim Dunnam, who represents the plaintiffs. “We’re glad that we get to move forward now, hopefully getting meaningful information.”

Baylor released the following statement on Thursday: “We are aware of the judge’s ruling, and anticipate there will be additional discovery-related motions and rulings as this case continues to evolve.”

The judge did say that Baylor is not legally required to release documents related to communication between the school and either the Big 12 or the Texas Rangers law enforcement group.

A different suit alleges at least 31 Baylor football players committed 52 assaults from 2011-14. After a law firm’s investigation into the program, former coach Art Briles was fired in May of 2016 and athletic director Ian McCaw — now at Liberty — and chancellor Ken Starr both resigned.

A 2016 letter from the Pepper Hamilton law firm to a Baylor regent classifies documents in the investigation as confidential due to attorney-client privilege. That letter was cited in a different Title IX suit vs. the school. The suit said the information behind the investigation must be public for the suit to go on.

Yet another suit made by a woman who said she was assaulted by a former Baylor player alleges that Starr knew about the assault allegations but didn’t report them to the proper authorities after meeting with the player.

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!