Lawsuit alleges gang rape, hostile environment in UA football program

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - An amended complaint has been filed in the lawsuit against the University of Arizona and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), alleging a "hostile environment" surrounding the treatment of former Wildcats football player Orlando Bradford.

In the public documents filed February 13 the amended complaint said, among other items, that there was an established culture of sexual harassment and sexual violence within the UA football program, "that led to rampant sexual harassment, sexual assault and even gang rapes of female students and female staff."

The amended complaint said that UA received reports of the sexual harassment and violence, but that, "little, if anything, was done to stop it and/or take prompt action to redress the harassment, particularly if corrective action might have negatively impacted the potential success of the football program."

Amended Complaint 2 by Tucson News Now on Scribd

The Plaintiff, a former UA student who dated Bradford, initially filed a lawsuit against ABOR on January 30, citing failures by ABOR and UA to open a Title IX investigation.

Following initial reports, rather than disciplining Bradford, University employees are accused of helping him secure off-campus housing with other members of the football team and allowing him to continue to play in football games and participate in UA football practice sessions.

Bradford, who was dismissed from the team in September 2016, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault-domestic violence on Friday, Sept. 29.

He was only released from the team after his September 2016 arrest.

Records from the Tucson Police Department reveal statements from witnesses and victims, stating Bradford's roommates and teammates were aware of, but did not report, violent incidents.

In late 2017, Bradford was sentenced to five years in prison.

The lawsuit alleges no one from the UA, "sought to remedy this hostile environment" or "stop the abuse" to help any of Bradford's victims.

Tucson News Now reached out to UA after hours Thursday for comment, but we have not heard back from the university. For previous stories about the Bradford case, the school has declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation.

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