LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST LSU OFFICIALS— An associate athletic director at Louisiana State University has filed a $50 million lawsuit accusing university officials of retaliating against her for reporting repeated racist remarks and inappropriate sexual behavior by a former head football coach. Sharon Lewis’ lawsuit said she was denied pay raises and subjected at times to verbal abuse after going to officials with the allegations against then Coach Les Miles. Numerous LSU officials refused to testify Thursday in Baton Rouge at a legislative hearing about the scandal. Miles was head football coach at LSU from 2005 until 2013.
"The safety and well-being of students and student athletes and the knowledge that they have that they're going to be safe and that they're parents have that they're going to be safe is critically important," John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana
Amid the widening probe into sexual misconduct allegations at LSU, Governor John Bel Edwards has announced his support behind House Bill 409 from Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, which would add teeth to the requirements that employees of colleges and universities report misconduct and abuse allegations, creating a chain of accountability all the way to the board that oversees the school. During his press conference yesterday, Edwards stressed the need to assure student safety at all Louisiana schools.
"The safety and well-being of students and student athletes and the knowledge that they have that they're going to be safe and that they're parents have that they're going to be safe is critically important," Edwards said. "And there is no advancing an institutional agenda that in any way compromises that."
Edwards also mentioned his other legislative priorities include a $36 billion spending plan that includes pay raises for K-12 teachers, increased funding for higher education, and his support for any bill that would increase the minimum wage in Louisiana.
