The University of Tennessee is currently under Federal Investigation because of a number of alleged sexual assault including members from the football team, while on campus, have been registered.
As per reports, the United States Department of Education has confirmed that its Civil Rights office launched the investigation on the 29th of June. Officials from the University said that they were currently collecting & preparing information as requested by this office.
It wasn’t very clear whether the athletic department at Tennessee was involved in this directly or not. But, there are at least 6 players from the football team who have been accused in the last 3 years of sexual assault.
Michael Williams, the former defensive back has already been indicted on a couple of counts of aggravated rape in an incident which took place in November 2014 where A.J. Johnson, a linebacker and leading tackler for the team, was named a suspect as well.
Von Pearson, the wide receiver, has also been indefinitely suspended by the team after his name came up in an alleged rape case in April 2014 although he hasn’t been charged for anything yet. Marlin Lane, Riyahd Jones & another player whose identity hasn’t been disclosed were also linked to these accusations which occurred between the months of 2013 & 2015.
There are a number of federal investigations regarding sexual crimes currently open in campuses all over the country. Vanderbilt is also included in the list where 4 players were accused of rape during 2013.
Two former players of the Commodores, Cory Batey & Brandon Vandenburg were also convicted this January for aggravated rape, but the verdicts were struck aside this June when a juror hadn’t disclosed that he too had been victim to sexual assault at one time. Two of the other former players from Vanderbilt, Jaborian McKenzie and Brandon Banks are awaiting trial as of now.
