Ken Starr, the former Baylor chancellor, just can't stop putting his foot in his mouth over the sexual assault scandal that occurred under his and former head coach Art Briles' watch.
After reports emerged that detailed the football coaches and staff took steps to disclose the sexual assault or dating violence allegations, thus not allowing the University to take the proper steps against the reported incidents, Starr spoke with the Texas Tribune and acknowledged he believed Briles was treated unfairly (per Deadspin).
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"A grave injustice was done to Art Briles," Starr said of the coach's firing, going on to say that he takes issue with media descriptions of Briles' behavior. "Coach Briles has been calumnied ... it's completely unfair."
Here's the report that was released following Briles' firing, per College Football Talk:
"Baylor failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University. In certain instances, including reports of a sexual assault by multiple football players, athletics and football personnel affirmatively chose not to report sexual violence and dating violence to an appropriate administrator outside of athletics. In those instances, football coaches or staff met directly with a complainant and/or a parent of a complainant and did not report the misconduct. As a result, no action was taken to support complainants, fairly and impartially evaluate the conduct under Title IX, address identified cultural concerns within the football program, or protect campus safety once aware of a potential pattern of sexual violence by multiple football players.
In addition, some football coaches and staff took improper steps in response to disclosures of sexual assault or dating violence that precluded the University from fulfilling its legal obligations. Football staff conducted their own untrained internal inquiries, outside of policy, which improperly discredited complainants and denied them the right to a fair, impartial and informed investigation, interim measures or processes promised under University policy. In some cases, internal steps gave the illusion of responsiveness to complainants but failed to provide a meaningful institutional response under Title IX. Further, because reports were not shared outside of athletics, the University missed critical opportunities to impose appropriate disciplinary action that would have removed offenders from campus and possibly precluded future acts of sexual violence against Baylor students. In some instances, the football program dismissed players for unspecified team violations and assisted them in transferring to other schools. As a result, some football coaches and staff abdicated responsibilities under Title IX and Clery; to student welfare; to the health and safety of complainants; and to Baylor's institutional values."
Starr's continued shying away from the facts and continuing the reported coverup is absolutely unreal. After taking steps to move on from the alleged tragedies at Baylor, Starr is only hurting the culture by continuing to drag it out.
As for solutions to the reported rape culture that had developed, Starr maintained yet again that students simply shouldn't go to off-campus parties.
