A Michigan State University student filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids Monday alleging three former men's basketball players sexually assaulted her in April 2015 at an off-campus and she was discouraged from reporting the incident, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The alleged victim, who was 18 at the time of the alleged gang rape by the three former basketball players, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, according to the AP.
The lawsuit also claims the University discouraged her from reporting the incident. After the assault, the woman visited the counseling center and told staff basketball players were involved. The lawsuit states the staff stressed if the woman reported the basketball players’ involvement to police “she faced an uphill battle that would create anxiety and unwanted media attention,” according to the AP.
The lawsuit is the latest sexual assault allegation directed at the University in recent months after former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar was convicted of disguising sexual assault as treatments of athletes and three former Michigan State football players were charged with sexual assault last year. Former Michigan State University dean and boss of Nassar William Strampel was also arrested on March 27 for sexually assaulting female students.
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