One of the most diverse banks in the U.S. can be found on the Palouse, How new NIL rules for NCAA sports are finally letting Inland Northwest collegiate stars cash in, Artist Keiko Hara explores a sense of place, literally and figuratively, in a new WSU exhibit, A global manhunt, plus: the county whiffs on federal funding; and WSU students are left in the cold, ANALYSIS: Mayoral challenger Lisa Brown says Spokane is 'stuck in neutral.' Weiler said Schulz would trust his senior managers and supervisors to make a decision on employee discipline in their department if there was a concern about a particular individual and that he would not want to override anyones decision. Jason Gesser has resigned as assistant AD at Washington State following new allegations of sexual misconduct against him by a former WSU volleyball player. The OEO investigates these claims for policy violations other than EP 15 if they feel the need to, as it still could be considered harassment of a protected class, she said. He started the season as Henry Burris' backup, but took over the starting role when Burris tore a ligament in his left thumb. They are evaluating whether we renew [Gessers] agreement for the fall.. "She's sad that this is going on and has been going on for so long," he says. She gazes toward her feet, shaking her head, quietly processing her answer. WSU President Kirk Schulz and Director of Athletics Pat Chun responded to Bodeaus complaint Monday by announcing in a joint statement that a new allegation of sexual misconduct had been reported. After this, she said Gesser made aggressive attempts to pull her in for a kiss, which she was only able to block by putting her hand over her mouth. A former WSU volleyball player has come forward with new allegations of sexual misconduct against Jason Gesser, assistant director of athletics for the Cougar Athletic Fund. The Evergreen spoke with the woman in question, whose name has been left out of this article in an attempt to protect her identity and reputation. [Gesser] ruined the school that I love and that I want to be an alumna in, she said. She also said she had heard of these things happening before her employment at WSU. Her husband said she originally didnt want to tell him the details, telling him she had received an unwanted text message. I realized that a donor is now frustrated because of the actions of Jason Gesser, Ganders told investigators. But I didnt know he was doing that to other girls.. In February 2012, Gesser was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Vandals, assisted on offense by another former WSU coach, Mike Levenseller, who was the receivers coach and passing game coordinator. He then addressed "the young woman that I made feel uncomfortable," saying, "I truly never meant to cause you harm," though he did not admit to any allegations. Gesser recruited the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii for Idaho. I know hes pretty close with the volleyball program and has a friendship with [head] coach [Jen] Greeny and I wonder what that looks like being at their home alone, no supervision.. She did convey that the flirty text message occurred when she was a student and interning with [IMG].. Gesser, a late camp cut by the Tennessee . Farkas then went on to speak with Almond about the issue and also told investigators he reported the concerns to WSU Title IX officials on Dec. 26, 2017. And then he tried again with both hands and slid both hands up my dress and put them on my butt, and I kept pushing him away and telling him no and he kept saying its OK. . I repressed it so hard. When she read those allegations in the newspaper two weeks ago, she realized she was not alone. Washington State University placed Jason Gesser, a former quarterback and current athletic department employee, on administrative leave Monday after a former Cougar athlete alleged Gesser tried to force himself on her after a fundraising event in 2015. The Evergreen filed a records request for the HRS review but has yet to receive them. Gesser was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in April 2003. I explained everything to him and it just brought everything rolling back because for a year I had suppressed it so hard to try to forget it.. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 31 May. Gesser is a former WSU quarterback who led the Cougars to the 2003 Rose Bowl, before embarking on a professional playing and college coaching career. She's troubled by reports that WSU football legend Jack Thompson told WSU employees to "fall in line," chiding WSU employees who reported rumors about Gesser that made it to President Schulz. Nonconsensual groping, unwanted attempts to kiss. After the event ended, she said she and Gesser went with a group of people, including then-Director of Athletics Bill Moos, to a local bar for drinks and to catch up. After the incident, she then drove him back to his hotel room, she said. Wold said he first put a hand on her leg during the drive, but removed it once she looked at him. The university released a statement following that article stating that OEO completed an investigation into the allegations of Gesser and found no violation of WSU policy. Bodeau, who says she was never called as part of WSU's original Gesser investigation, questions whether WSU truly wanted to find out the truth, or if investigators instead were going through the motions in an effort to clear Gesser. On May 5, 2005, Gesser was signed by the Calgary Stampeders. I thought I was the only one that this happened to. To the young woman that I made feel uncomfortable, I respectfully have a different recollection of the situation youve described, Gesser wrote, but acknowledge that I should never have been in the situation in the first place, and I apologize. So many questions. Whitman County Massage therapist says Jason Gesser exposed himself to her Streets was a massage therapist about three years ago in Moscow, Idaho, and Gesser was one of her clients. I am thrilled to join the Seton Catholic family, Gesser said in a press release. OEO determined it didnt have enough evidence to conduct an investigation under Executive Policy 15, but referred the matter to Human Resource Services based on information from witnesses that may violate other WSU polices or raise concerns related to employee performance and professionalism. He also said she told him how excited she was to attend the event, but how the night quickly turned sour. He was originally hired at Idaho as running backs coach in June 2011. The earliest OEO interview notes obtained as part of the records request are dated in early January. Gesser did not participate in the investigation. OEO Executive Director Kimberly Anderson confirmed that an investigation only happens if a person wants actions to be taken or if the acts in question are egregious enough to warrant further potential discipline. Gesser said he still keeps in touch with coach Mike Price and his two assistant-coach sons, Eric and Aaron, who have had a remarkable 8-3 season at Texas-El Paso. I just referred to it as an HR issue, Almond said in the records. But they said, 'We feel we want to have a comfort level of someone who has played.' I was so confused and terrified in that moment, Wold said during an in-person interview at Neill Public Library on Monday. That includes Uri Farkas, director of the Cougar Athletic Fund, and Gil Picciotto, executive associate vice president for the WSU Foundation. I wanted their kids to be in our wedding, I couldnt even invite them to our wedding.. I just said, No, she said. [Coworker] indicated that Jason had a sexual relationship with [intern], a student-athlete and Jasons intern, Farkas said, according to the notes. Almond said he spoke with Schulz, according to the records. It was similar to other allegations against Gesser that WSU investigated earlier this year. Staff is frustrated, I am frustrated.. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673. Alyssa Bodeau's phone won't stop buzzing. She went on to play at WSU, where she met Gesser's wife, a former volleyball player herself. I will not allow my name to be unfairly smeared, and I will continue to passionately serve our University as a proud member of Cougar Nation, Gesser wrote in his statement. I would imagine it was the start of the investigation, Weiler said of when Schulz was informed of the situation. He aggressively came into his office, accused me of ruining his life, his marriage and his kids lives.. Kali has landed a sales job with a pharmaceutical company. "From men.". And having already received messages from dozens of women, she also issued a call to action: "If my story resonates with you, come forward. Allegations outlined in the public records include: The Evergreen reached out to Gesser multiple times through various means, including email and numerous phone calls to his office and cell phone, but he did not respond to our attempts. The original print version of this article was headlined "Them, Too". Seeing how many other women this happens to has hit her the hardest. Ganders said in the interview the woman in question was supposed to be auctioned off as a caddy for donors the next day, but she never fulfilled her duties for the tournament. Gesser said he plans to continue pursuing his dream of playing professional football "for the next two to three years and see what happens. Gesser would not respond to the Evergreens request for comment. Wold and Peterson lived together for the rest of the year and Peterson said they havent spoken about it since the day it happened. Bodeau went home after dropping Gesser off at his hotel. During their ride, they both were silent, other than Gesser telling her it was OK because nothing happened between them, Wold said. Once in the driveway, he made an attempt to kiss her which she said she refused. When something like that happens to you with someone that you trust, youre always going to feel uncomfortable.. It's Tuesday, a day after coming forward to say that former Washington State University quarterback Jason Gesser groped her and tried to kiss her against her will. As Kali Surplus, she played setter on two WSU volleyball teams in 2000 and 01 that reached the NCAA tournament both years. 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The Evergreen has confirmed Wold coached for SMU in 2014 through the universitys website. Wold said she has wondered why Gesser is still employed at WSU, and said she was disappointed he was still working for the university. [Donor] called me and told me it was [bullsh-t] that she was invited, that it was a misuse of state funds, Ganders told investigators. The Evergreen published a story last Thursday outlining a number of allegations of sexual misconduct by Gesser as far back as 2014 that were discovered through hundreds of pages of public records. Farkas also reported to the investigators that other CAF officials said Gesser and the woman had behaved inappropriately at the after-party, according to the records. Bodeau won't be satisfied until the dozens of women who messaged her are comfortable sharing their experiences with institutions like WSU. Ganders, a regional director for the CAF at the time, and Gesser attended the event. He was previously the interim head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and recruiting coordinator for the Idaho Vandals of the WAC. ". I am categorically opposed to harassment or sexism in the workplace or society, and I am deeply committed to my wife and children.. Besides those closest to her, Alyssa Bodeau, ne Wold, says she never thought she'd tell anyone about the night she says Gesser groped her and forcibly kissed her. "Institutions have a responsibility to protect their employees, to protect those who are under them from these things happening to these girls," she says. The allegations are outlined in interview notes and records from a complaint review carried out by WSUs Office for Equal Opportunity that began in January, which the Evergreen obtained through a public records request. She told me she felt guilty, Steven Bodeau said. she asks. She was concerned as to why Jason had sent her a flirty text message. The Evergreen talked to two people close to Wold who said they received a phone call from her the morning after the incident occurred. Schulz, who did not comment directly on the story, spoke with the Evergreen staff during a meeting on Sept. 7 and said he can step in during personnel matters.