Quote:
I dont know why its any bigger of an issue than when anyone else is molested or sexually harassed?
Yeah.
Here's the story. Doesn't sound like a big deal.
UIC player files harassment suit
Freshman says he was touched improperly by hoops assistant coach
By Tonya Maxwell and Jodi S. Cohen
Tribune staff reporters
January 18, 2007, 10:10 PM CST
A freshman basketball player at Illinois-Chicago is suing school and team officials, alleging that an assistant coach sexually harassed him, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday.
Luis Martinez, 20, alleges assistant coach Lynn Mitchem touched him improperly on Dec. 19 after a game at Mississippi.
The men were in a locker room, Mitchem wearing only underwear, when he walked behind Martinez and put a hand on the player's left breast, the suit says.
The document alleges Mitchem said: "Can I see that sexy body of yours. Can I do something with your body later on tonight."
Martinez walked backward, and Mitchem's hand fell away, according to the suit.
UIC officials learned of the complaint after it was filed and have not been formally served, spokesman Mark Rosati said.
"As a matter of policy, we don't comment on litigation," he said. "The university has procedures that we follow with an allegation of this nature."
Mitchem is on paid leave, Rosati said. Mitchem and head coach Jimmy Collins could not be reached for comment. Collins has been on medical leave since Dec. 22 because he was "physically and mentally exhausted." He had surgery Jan. 3 to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm and his return is contingent on his physical well-being.
The lawsuit chronicles several alleged meetings and statements among Martinez, team officials and players in the days after the incident.
It alleges Mitchem attempted to intimidate Martinez by asking him about his grades on several occasions.
Martinez, who had trouble with grades, took the questions as warnings to keep silent about the incident, said his lawyer, Sheldon Nagelberg.
He since has been undergoing treatment for depression and has not returned to school, Nagelberg said.
Mitchem, in his sixth year at UIC, also has coached at Nebraska, Washington State, Ball State, Loyola and Southern Illinois.
Martinez, a native of Guatemala and a graduate of Lincoln Park High School, had made the team as a walk-on. He has returned to live with his father on the North Side, Nagelberg said.
The coaching staff was aware of the incident within 24 hours, Nagelberg said.
Nagelberg alleged that they did nothing to protect his client and pointed out statements by Bryant Lowe, director of men's basketball operations.
According to the lawsuit, Lowe said to Martinez before a game Dec. 21 at Penn, "They need to get rid of [Mitchem] because he makes everyone feel uncomfortable," and added that "Jimmy Collins was supposed to do a background check."
In a Philadelphia hotel room after the game, Collins spoke to Martinez, according to the suit.
"Mitchem, I'm sure he didn't mean it—he's just a little weird … maybe he didn't mean it," the suit quotes Collins saying.
"You know, tomorrow morning, you come to my office. I'll take care of you. You'll be all right."
The next day, the suit alleges, UIC athletic director James Schmidt told Martinez to fill out a grievance form.
Mitchem is being sued for sexual harassment, while other officials are being sued on grounds they did nothing to protect Martinez and failed to perform a full background check on Mitchem before hiring him.
According to court documents, a Palatine woman filed an order of protection against Mitchem in 1999, claiming he constantly called her, rang her doorbell for extended periods of time and had exposed himself.
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