Last week, The New York Times released a damning report on an institutional failure by Florida State University and law enforcement officials in Tallahassee. The report looks at various offenses allegedly committed by FSU football players, and the actions — and more often than not, the inactions — taken by the university and law enforcement. The allegations include from sexual assault, theft, abuse and an ongoing BB gun fight between football players who terrified innocent bystanders.
The lack of charges or prosecutions for any of these offenses is baffling, and officials from FSU and law enforcement owe the FSU community, the city of Tallahassee, the state of Florida and the entire nation an explanation.
A rash of news coverage of sexual assaults on college campuses — headlined by the allegations against FSU star quarterback Jameis Winston — highlights the need for additional safety measures to protect college students, especially young women who are at risk.
Based on the New York Times’ report, it appears that the officials in Tallahassee ignored the need for protection, and instead, did whatever they could to make sure FSU football players never faced serious consequences for their actions. It is unconscionable that for more than two years, criminal acts simply went unpunished.
At this point, the Jameis Winston situation does not bear repeating, for we all know what he allegedly did. From the sexual assault accusations, the stolen crabs legs and BB gun shootouts, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is the standard bearer among college athletes who face little to no punishment for their actions, but Winston is not the only offender at FSU.
Among other unacceptable acts allegedly committed by FSU football players include the theft of an FSU student’s scooter. Wide receiver Jesus Wilson was accused of grand theft auto after allegedly stealing a student’s scooter. The police officer assigned to the case did not initially arrest Wilson, claiming that his story sounded plausible. Eventually, Wilson admitted to stealing the scooter. Instead of facing a felony grand theft auto charge, Wilson spent 30 days on a Leon County sheriff’s work detail and paid the victim $1,000.
Multiple football players participated in several BB gun fights throughout Tallahassee that did significant damage to windows and cars, as well as frayed the nerves of residents throughout town. In one of the incidents, a helicopter from the Leon County Sheriff’s office was dispatched to locate suspects in what they thought was a shooting on campus. Turns out, it was just FSU football players goofing off with BB guns. Naturally, no charges were filed.
When FSU players were caught shooting BB guns out of their car along West Tennessee Street not far from campus — with BBs allegedly striking people walking — no charges were filed and a player was instead issued a traffic citation.
The BB gun fights continued — nearly unabated for nearly two years — including the aforementioned shootout at an apartment complex and the shootout on campus that prompted the helicopter search.
How can FSU coach Jimbo Fisher tolerate this unacceptable behavior? How have the residents of Tallahassee not revolted against institutions that largely ignore dangerous acts and wild behavior that put innocent bystanders at risk?
Winning football games should not come before the safety and protection of FSU students and Tallahassee residents.
Our college campuses and the surrounding community need to be safe places, and those given the opportunity to protect those campuses need to step up. Sadly, law enforcement officials in Tallahassee apparently don’t see that the safety of all FSU students should not be compromised for the benefit of football players.
We may all worship at the altar of college football, but to ignore or gloss over serious criminal acts is wrong. What has happened in Tallahassee should be a wake-up call to universities and college towns across the U.S. to hold all their students accountable.
Joel Mendelson is a UF graduate student in political campaigning. His columns appear on Wednesdays.
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 10/15/2014]
