© John Hefti | 2016 Oct 1
A former sports medicine intern in the Cal athletic department has referred allegations of sexual harassment to its Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, according to ESPN.
The former intern and current Cal student, Paige Cornelius, detailed the sexual misconduct she experienced from players, coaches, and staff members in a March 2018 Facebook post. In the post, Cornelius says that she has “medically withdrawn from school, seeking intensive therapy and psychiatry for the post traumatic stress syndrome and anxiety that happened from the time I spent working for the Cal Football team.”
“We are aware of the very disturbing public allegations made on social media,” Cal’s statement read according to ESPN. “Allegations of sexual violence and sexual harassment by campus employees are confidential unless officials determine policy is violated, and disciplinary action has been decided.”
The harassment of Cornelius allegedly included one coach saying, “I will get you fired if you do not have sex with me.”
“If I responded please leave me alone to a (direct message on social media), I was answered back with, ‘I’m going to treat you like the hoe that you are,’” Cornelius wrote.
Cornelius says she informed Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton, football coach Justin Wilcox and other staff members about her experiences but did not receive a response. One coach who allegedly followed her home to try and convince her to go to the pool with him, is still employed by the team according to Cornelius.
“Campus prevention and response efforts have increased in recent years,” Cal’s statement read. “All university staff and all students are required to complete sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training. In addition, the athletic department sponsors supplementary formal training for coaches, staff and student-athletes in sexual violence awareness and prevention, bystander intervention, and campus reporting procedures.”