Trainer's settlement involved more than Manning's mooning
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Trainer Jamie Whited's sexual harassment claims against the Tennessee men's athletic department didn't begin when quarterback Peyton Manning "mooned" her in the locker room.
Records released Tuesday by the university suggest Ms. Whited, 28, endured a long list of slights, affronts, embarrassments and, possibly, threats within the Volunteer athletic complex dating to 1990.
She reached a $300,000 settlement with the university last week and agreed to resign. UT announced the agreement late Friday without disclosing the extent of her complaints.
President Joe Johnson confirmed Tuesday the settlement will be paid with revenues from the athletic department, not taxpayer dollars.
A UT investigation conducted after Ms. Whited filed the complaint last year verified at least four of her 33 claims involving athletes, trainers, coaches and administrators. It noted athletes or trainers received some form of discipline in other cases.
But the report also contained some denials and memory lapses by Ms. Whited's colleagues and administrators. In those cases, investigators reached no conclusion and dismissed the claims as vague or too general.
Investigators concluded "both parties share responsibility for the current environment."
"Ms. Whited often sent mixed messages about matters complained of in her allegations in that she herself exhibited similar behavior or did not make clear that she found particular conduct to be offensive," the report said.
"Likewise, the Athletics Department administration could have avoided some problems by more clearly conveying to Ms. Whited the basis for actions she considered to be discriminatory."
People interviewed by investigators said Ms. Whited frequently used profanity in an effort, as one put it, "to prove that she was one of the boys."
Ms. Whited gave a different account in the complaint filed Aug. 27, 1996. She said sexual harassment allegations at UT "are treated as jokes and efforts are made to protect the student-athlete, and cover up the complaints."
Among Ms. Whited's complaints were that she was embarrassed by the nickname "Bumper," which she said athletes gave her because of her breast size.
She also said she was the subject of a song with sexual innuendo sung by the track team, had student trainers barge into a storage room where she changed clothes and received warnings that "other athletes were referring to me in a sexual manner and that I should be concerned for my safety."
But it was the incident involving Manning, considered among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy, that apparently was the final straw.
On Feb. 29, 1996, Manning exposed his buttocks as Ms. Whited bent over to examine his foot in a training room. Manning called it a prank intended for another athlete, apologized and was punished with extra running.
Ms. Whited cited the incident as the reason for taking a medical leave.
She was unavailable to comment Tuesday. A message on her home answering machine said she was grateful for the "opportunity for academic and professional achievement" at UT over the past 11 years.
"I will spend my educational leave expanding my research on health issues related to football student-athletes," she said.
Marilyn Hudson, her attorney, called it "an arduous ordeal. We are glad it is over with."
"It takes a lot for anybody to come forward," said Ms. Hudson, a specialist in sex discrimination cases, "and the larger and more influential the employer, the more courage and bravery it takes."
Some university officials were upset that Manning received the brunt of attention from the complaint. His father, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, took it in stride.
"I know that around the country people kind of put their own headlines on stories," he said. "But that's just the way it is. I'd just like for it to die now. I believe it will."
