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Violated: Exposing Rape at Baylor University amid College Football's Sexual Assault Crisis
In Violated, two ESPN investigative reporters provide readers with a shocking narrative of sexual crimes committed against women, and a university's culture that kept them quiet.
Throughout its history, Baylor University has presented itself as something special. As the world's largest Baptist university, it was unabashedly Christian. It condemned any sex outside of marriage, and drinking alcohol was grounds for dismissal. Students weren't even allowed to dance on campus until 1996.
During the last several years, however, Baylor officials were hiding a dark secret. Female students were being sexually assaulted at an alarming rate. Baylor administrators did very little to help victims, and their assailants rarely faced discipline for their abhorrent behavior.
Finally, after a pair of high-profile criminal cases involving football players, an independent examination of Baylor's handling of allegations of sexual assault led to sweeping changes, including the unprecedented ouster of its president, athletics director, and popular, highly successful football coach.
For several years, campuses and sports teams across the country have been plagued with accusations of sexual violence, and they've been criticized for how they responded to the students involved. But Baylor stands out. A culture reigned in which people believed that any type of sex, especially violent non-consensual sex, simply "doesn't happen here." Yet it was happening. Many people within Baylor's leadership knew about it. And they chose not to act.
Paula Lavigne, and Mark Schlabach, weave together the complex - and at times contradictory - narrative of how a university, and football program, ascending in national prominence came crashing down amidst the stories of woman after woman coming forward describing their assaults, and a university system they found indifferent to their pain.
Throughout its history, Baylor University has presented itself as something special. As the world's largest Baptist university, it was unabashedly Christian. It condemned any sex outside of marriage, and drinking alcohol was grounds for dismissal. Students weren't even allowed to dance on campus until 1996.
During the last several years, however, Baylor officials were hiding a dark secret. Female students were being sexually assaulted at an alarming rate. Baylor administrators did very little to help victims, and their assailants rarely faced discipline for their abhorrent behavior.
Finally, after a pair of high-profile criminal cases involving football players, an independent examination of Baylor's handling of allegations of sexual assault led to sweeping changes, including the unprecedented ouster of its president, athletics director, and popular, highly successful football coach.
For several years, campuses and sports teams across the country have been plagued with accusations of sexual violence, and they've been criticized for how they responded to the students involved. But Baylor stands out. A culture reigned in which people believed that any type of sex, especially violent non-consensual sex, simply "doesn't happen here." Yet it was happening. Many people within Baylor's leadership knew about it. And they chose not to act.
Paula Lavigne, and Mark Schlabach, weave together the complex - and at times contradictory - narrative of how a university, and football program, ascending in national prominence came crashing down amidst the stories of woman after woman coming forward describing their assaults, and a university system they found indifferent to their pain.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published August 22, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 30, 2017
I have recently either read or been interested in reading quite a few fiction titles that deal with the the issues of gender inequality and stereotypes, rape culture, and sexual assault. I thought it imperative I discover a non-fiction counterpart and educate myself on the real-world equivalent to these fictional stories.
This book focuses on these topics, with a particular emphasis on Baylor University. Baylor is acclaimed for both its safe and inclusive Baptist community and its highly competitive athletic programmes. More troubling is its more recent image as a place where a a startlingly high number of sexually assaulted women have spoken out about their abuse and the subsequent lack of support they received. Few offenders were disciplined or faced criminal consequences for their actions.
Despite not ever having heard of Baylor University before, this book used this focus on one particular institute to broach larger and more wide-spread topics, that affect many other institutions and communities across the world.
I usually prefer the non-fiction I read to have a more lyrical and fiction-inspired approach to the facts they are discussing. Here, due to the horrifying nature of the topics covered, I was glad for the often clinical and distant feel of the prose. I felt it did the victims and their sorrow justice, as well as allowing the reader to tackle the facts from a less emotional view-point.
Despite this being a painful read I also found it very educational and well researched. And it is titles such as these that will hopefully help provide an abolition of the rape culture dominant in many similar establishments.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the authors, Paula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach, and the publisher, Center Street, for this opportunity.
This book focuses on these topics, with a particular emphasis on Baylor University. Baylor is acclaimed for both its safe and inclusive Baptist community and its highly competitive athletic programmes. More troubling is its more recent image as a place where a a startlingly high number of sexually assaulted women have spoken out about their abuse and the subsequent lack of support they received. Few offenders were disciplined or faced criminal consequences for their actions.
Despite not ever having heard of Baylor University before, this book used this focus on one particular institute to broach larger and more wide-spread topics, that affect many other institutions and communities across the world.
I usually prefer the non-fiction I read to have a more lyrical and fiction-inspired approach to the facts they are discussing. Here, due to the horrifying nature of the topics covered, I was glad for the often clinical and distant feel of the prose. I felt it did the victims and their sorrow justice, as well as allowing the reader to tackle the facts from a less emotional view-point.
Despite this being a painful read I also found it very educational and well researched. And it is titles such as these that will hopefully help provide an abolition of the rape culture dominant in many similar establishments.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the authors, Paula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach, and the publisher, Center Street, for this opportunity.
January 12, 2021
A great companion read to Krakauer's Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town which focused on the failures of the justice system in prosecuting college-based sexual assaults. Lavigne and Schlabach focus their investigation of the college sexual assault crisis on Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Through this case study, their analysis reveals the significant role that institutional failures (within some universities) has played in the development and persistence of this crisis. Obviously it is, at times, unpleasant reading. But I thought this was an important contribution to the discussion of this issue.
November 26, 2017
4.5.
While Missoula takes on the justice system's failures and the difficulty in prosecuting cases regarding sexual assault, Violated focuses on the institutional failures of Baylor University in following Title IX and accommodating student victims. It's clear to the reader that many of the accused had histories of alleged and even documented abuse. There are cases of serial rape, gang rape, and domestic abuse - and many of these instances reached both university employees and coaching staff but seemingly went nowhere. These repeated allegations should have been obvious red flags to investigate further, but much of Baylor was stuck on an idea of "we're a Christian university, hence our students don't drink and don't have sex outside of marriage." That is, until the women victims began to tell their stories. There was a realization by victims that their perceived individual rapes and assaults were actually part of a larger culture of sexual assault on Baylor's campus. News of assaults led to a reckoning, including firings and new guidelines on dealing with sexual assault.
Lavigne and Schlabach spend the first portion telling the stories of victims, which are rage-inducing and heavy. Then, they turn to the university's failures (and Waco PD's failure) in helping victims with academic support or with reporting their assaults to the appropriate authorities. What makes this story even more engaging is that Baylor puts forth a brand as a Baptist university and many victims decided to attend Baylor because of its religious affiliation. Moreover, this crisis occurred during Baylor's rise as a football school. The football team's success was integral to Baylor's dreams of national prominence as a well-endowed research university (good football team = more students = more tuition and donations = prominence.)
This book is matter-of-fact, clinical, and journalistic. If you are interested in the current debate on campus sexual assault, this is a fascinating and eye-opening read.
While Missoula takes on the justice system's failures and the difficulty in prosecuting cases regarding sexual assault, Violated focuses on the institutional failures of Baylor University in following Title IX and accommodating student victims. It's clear to the reader that many of the accused had histories of alleged and even documented abuse. There are cases of serial rape, gang rape, and domestic abuse - and many of these instances reached both university employees and coaching staff but seemingly went nowhere. These repeated allegations should have been obvious red flags to investigate further, but much of Baylor was stuck on an idea of "we're a Christian university, hence our students don't drink and don't have sex outside of marriage." That is, until the women victims began to tell their stories. There was a realization by victims that their perceived individual rapes and assaults were actually part of a larger culture of sexual assault on Baylor's campus. News of assaults led to a reckoning, including firings and new guidelines on dealing with sexual assault.
Lavigne and Schlabach spend the first portion telling the stories of victims, which are rage-inducing and heavy. Then, they turn to the university's failures (and Waco PD's failure) in helping victims with academic support or with reporting their assaults to the appropriate authorities. What makes this story even more engaging is that Baylor puts forth a brand as a Baptist university and many victims decided to attend Baylor because of its religious affiliation. Moreover, this crisis occurred during Baylor's rise as a football school. The football team's success was integral to Baylor's dreams of national prominence as a well-endowed research university (good football team = more students = more tuition and donations = prominence.)
This book is matter-of-fact, clinical, and journalistic. If you are interested in the current debate on campus sexual assault, this is a fascinating and eye-opening read.
August 20, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
It is incomprehensible how an entire university and local police department could be so blind to sexual abuse. The football team will get the majority of the headlines (and they certainly earned their headlines), but the controversy spreads across the entire campus and administration. Reading these accounts is sickening and what makes it even worse is how little compassion these victims received from the police and university. In many instances, the response exacerbated the negative impact of the crimes.
This book should serve as a warning to university administrators across the country of what not to do. It also should be used as a case study as how important a quality Title IX coordinator and policy is for an university.
Hopefully the release of this book and other similar articles will assist in bringing more change to how individuals react to sexual assault.
It is incomprehensible how an entire university and local police department could be so blind to sexual abuse. The football team will get the majority of the headlines (and they certainly earned their headlines), but the controversy spreads across the entire campus and administration. Reading these accounts is sickening and what makes it even worse is how little compassion these victims received from the police and university. In many instances, the response exacerbated the negative impact of the crimes.
This book should serve as a warning to university administrators across the country of what not to do. It also should be used as a case study as how important a quality Title IX coordinator and policy is for an university.
Hopefully the release of this book and other similar articles will assist in bringing more change to how individuals react to sexual assault.
September 24, 2017
This book will outrage you.
And it should.
From a Baylor regent who demands in an email that women students he saw drinking at a party be expelled, calling them "perverted little tarts," to the football player who describes an alleged gang rape as "a fuck-around," and beyond, "Violated" joins a canon of books about sex assault on college campuses.
Yes, the football team is at the heart of the rape culture at Baylor. But this book also illustrates how a Baptist-run school ignored allegations of sexual assault, in part to protect football but also in total denial that students drank and had sex in violation of the Christian-inspired honor code.
My question: How many more of these books must be written before we address a culture where assault victims shoulder the blame and "boys will be boys"?
Full disclosure: Co-author Paula Lavigne is a close friend.
And it should.
From a Baylor regent who demands in an email that women students he saw drinking at a party be expelled, calling them "perverted little tarts," to the football player who describes an alleged gang rape as "a fuck-around," and beyond, "Violated" joins a canon of books about sex assault on college campuses.
Yes, the football team is at the heart of the rape culture at Baylor. But this book also illustrates how a Baptist-run school ignored allegations of sexual assault, in part to protect football but also in total denial that students drank and had sex in violation of the Christian-inspired honor code.
My question: How many more of these books must be written before we address a culture where assault victims shoulder the blame and "boys will be boys"?
Full disclosure: Co-author Paula Lavigne is a close friend.
October 13, 2017
Sexual assaults on college campuses have been a problem that has gained more notoriety in recent years as universities have been held responsible to create a safe environment for women. The institutions have been accused of protecting athletes accused of assault, especially football players. Baylor University, a Baptist school in Waco, Texas was exposed to enhancing this culture and the investigation into this culture is the topic of this excellent book by investigative reporters Paula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach.
The book begins with stories of unwanted advances, rape and even gang rape of female students by various football players on the Baylor team. The victims are from various backgrounds, races and interests. The accounts of these attacks are difficult to read – detailed enough to make the reader uncomfortable, but necessary to illustrate the magnitude of the crimes. These victims are followed through most of the book as their lives are changed forever. Those that were brave enough to come forward then faced more problems on several fronts. Whether it was Baylor officials not believing the victims, assailants being protected by coaches and other school officials, or investigations that ranged from incomplete to poor, the book shows the lack of compassion the university gave these young women.
As for the players, they are not given any slack by the authors – they are held responsible for their actions and the excuses or protection provided by the university’s athletic department are exposed for the obstruction of justice that they are. The football coach and athletic director eventually lose their jobs over this issue. Other players who are not accused or took part in any of these assaults for the most part are not affected, but those who would protect teammates or accuse the victims of lying or consenting are criticized just as much as those who assaulted the women.
Even more than the players, however, is the harsh criticism that Baylor University took by the authors and it was well-deserved. In addition to the aforementioned lack of sympathy for the victims, the compliance with Title IX, the federal law that promotes gender equality on college campuses, was poor as well. The authors expose Baylor’s reporting of sexual assaults and subsequent interviews and closing of cases that left a lot to be desired. The people responsible are many and not just those in the football program. Like most scandals, the responsibility comes from the top, as college president Ken Starr (yes, THAT Ken Starr) had to give up the position.
While this was a very difficult book to read on all fronts and in all chapters, it is one that is necessary to read in order for one to comprehend the scope and horror of the sexual assault crisis. The reader will not only be angry at the men who assaulted these women, it will be clear to the reader that the university must bear the ultimate responsibility for the victims and must work to change their culture.
I wish to thank Center Street for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
The book begins with stories of unwanted advances, rape and even gang rape of female students by various football players on the Baylor team. The victims are from various backgrounds, races and interests. The accounts of these attacks are difficult to read – detailed enough to make the reader uncomfortable, but necessary to illustrate the magnitude of the crimes. These victims are followed through most of the book as their lives are changed forever. Those that were brave enough to come forward then faced more problems on several fronts. Whether it was Baylor officials not believing the victims, assailants being protected by coaches and other school officials, or investigations that ranged from incomplete to poor, the book shows the lack of compassion the university gave these young women.
As for the players, they are not given any slack by the authors – they are held responsible for their actions and the excuses or protection provided by the university’s athletic department are exposed for the obstruction of justice that they are. The football coach and athletic director eventually lose their jobs over this issue. Other players who are not accused or took part in any of these assaults for the most part are not affected, but those who would protect teammates or accuse the victims of lying or consenting are criticized just as much as those who assaulted the women.
Even more than the players, however, is the harsh criticism that Baylor University took by the authors and it was well-deserved. In addition to the aforementioned lack of sympathy for the victims, the compliance with Title IX, the federal law that promotes gender equality on college campuses, was poor as well. The authors expose Baylor’s reporting of sexual assaults and subsequent interviews and closing of cases that left a lot to be desired. The people responsible are many and not just those in the football program. Like most scandals, the responsibility comes from the top, as college president Ken Starr (yes, THAT Ken Starr) had to give up the position.
While this was a very difficult book to read on all fronts and in all chapters, it is one that is necessary to read in order for one to comprehend the scope and horror of the sexual assault crisis. The reader will not only be angry at the men who assaulted these women, it will be clear to the reader that the university must bear the ultimate responsibility for the victims and must work to change their culture.
I wish to thank Center Street for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
January 10, 2022
A thing that happens multiple times in this journalistic-telling of sexual violence at Baylor University is a woman hears a report on the grapevine or from the media about a rape at the hands of football players — and she thinks someone has found out about her own rape and revealed her story, only to discover that, no, it was another woman who experienced the same horrible thing.
Another common happening is women who are told they are attending a compassionate, loving, supportive Christian-centered school so they seek help for acts of violence against them, only to become disillusioned when they are ignored, blamed, and bullied.
Excerpt: One of the lawsuits filed against Baylor would state that football players would haze freshmen recruits by having them bring or invite women to house parties, where the girls would be drugged and gang raped. Football players would engage in a practice known as running “trains”—which is when several men take turns one after the other having sex with the same woman. “The gang rapes were considered a ‘bonding’ experience for the football players,” the complaint stated.
The reporters behind this book have many many sources verifying this was indeed the case. They simply lay out the facts and go out of their way to allow the athletes and their supporters to give their viewpoint. Official bureaucrats get to give their views, too; this means some parts are a little dry if you were to read the book. These sections of background and context go by quickly on audio.
It never ceases to amaze me how brave people are who speak out about their assaults. They end up being attacked again, often multiple times, by officialdom and the public — and despite this abuse for doing the right thing, doing what they've been told to do, they do it anyway and they undeniably move the needle forward for a better world for future generations.
Excerpt:
*At first, Jasmin didn’t want to be involved. She didn’t want to bring it all up again. “But at the same time, I have the choice and the opportunity to allow my actions to be more impactful than myself,” she said. “And you know, I just feel like it’s the cultural awareness, if you don’t speak about it, it won’t be spoken.
And one more excerpt that caught my attention:
*“‘Stand up for yourself’ is not a virtue that you are taught as a Christian woman, and ‘fight back’ is definitely not one,” she said.
Another common happening is women who are told they are attending a compassionate, loving, supportive Christian-centered school so they seek help for acts of violence against them, only to become disillusioned when they are ignored, blamed, and bullied.
Excerpt: One of the lawsuits filed against Baylor would state that football players would haze freshmen recruits by having them bring or invite women to house parties, where the girls would be drugged and gang raped. Football players would engage in a practice known as running “trains”—which is when several men take turns one after the other having sex with the same woman. “The gang rapes were considered a ‘bonding’ experience for the football players,” the complaint stated.
The reporters behind this book have many many sources verifying this was indeed the case. They simply lay out the facts and go out of their way to allow the athletes and their supporters to give their viewpoint. Official bureaucrats get to give their views, too; this means some parts are a little dry if you were to read the book. These sections of background and context go by quickly on audio.
It never ceases to amaze me how brave people are who speak out about their assaults. They end up being attacked again, often multiple times, by officialdom and the public — and despite this abuse for doing the right thing, doing what they've been told to do, they do it anyway and they undeniably move the needle forward for a better world for future generations.
Excerpt:
*At first, Jasmin didn’t want to be involved. She didn’t want to bring it all up again. “But at the same time, I have the choice and the opportunity to allow my actions to be more impactful than myself,” she said. “And you know, I just feel like it’s the cultural awareness, if you don’t speak about it, it won’t be spoken.
And one more excerpt that caught my attention:
*“‘Stand up for yourself’ is not a virtue that you are taught as a Christian woman, and ‘fight back’ is definitely not one,” she said.
July 31, 2018
This book left me wondering why Baylor even has a football program today, maybe even why Baylor university still exists. The things that occured there were appalling, and the way that the institution addressed the issues was calloused at best. For a school that claims to have a Christian mission they seemed to have little Christian charity towards the people who were harmed. This book has mixed reviews on Amazon, many of the negative reviews seemed to be written by individuals who take issue with the way that the authors treat Baylor- they are sadly mistaken, Baylor without a doubt deserves our scorn.
October 15, 2020
This was not a pleasant read though I appreciated the authors focus on the impacts on survivors since this is all too often overshadowed by how the accused might be impacted.
The exploration of the criminal justice system and how it repeatedly fails survivors of sexual assault was, once again, infuriating. I admire the strength and the courage it would’ve taken for all those women who reported their perpetrator knowing they were up against a system that does little to bring survivors justice.
As well as that, the handling by the university was shocking beyond words and they failed these young women immensely. That this institution is responsible for the well-being of so many, yet would rather protect a few athletes is criminal.
I wouldn’t encourage you to read this book if you struggle with graphic details about sexual assault. A very important topic that needs to be spoken about more.
The exploration of the criminal justice system and how it repeatedly fails survivors of sexual assault was, once again, infuriating. I admire the strength and the courage it would’ve taken for all those women who reported their perpetrator knowing they were up against a system that does little to bring survivors justice.
As well as that, the handling by the university was shocking beyond words and they failed these young women immensely. That this institution is responsible for the well-being of so many, yet would rather protect a few athletes is criminal.
I wouldn’t encourage you to read this book if you struggle with graphic details about sexual assault. A very important topic that needs to be spoken about more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2018
This is an important topic, but a terrible source. Lavigne, Schlabach and espn in general have discredited themselves as journalists by printing uncorroborated stories, unproven rumors, and innuendo to attack college officials' integrity without proof, all to score ratings points off the Nassar scandal, which is sickening. Just today, they publicly named a young collegian who is under investigation, but hasn't been charged, and may never be charged. This is yellow journalism and mud-slinging. For a much better read on the subject, I recommend Missoula by John Krakauer, a journalist with some ethics.
August 11, 2018
I’m a huge fan of Lavigne and Schlabach at ESPN. They’re both committed to IRE and helping other reporters get better. This is a clear-eyed summary of the scandal that took down Briles and Starr (among others). Hard to read some parts, but needs to be reported, on the record and for history.
November 27, 2017
A terribly grim entry in the never-ending "seedy underbelly of college ports" series that I will be reading for the next few years, at least. I read these as cautionary tales, trying to educate myself about what it looks like when things go wrong.
And, at Baylor, things went very, very wrong, as Lavigne and Schlabach, two ESPN writers, ably demonstrate here. I was going to give this five stars through about the first 3/4, but I felt like at the end the authors lost their own thread a little bit, things just got a little convoluted between regents, rivals to the regents, the university, its own Title IX and Judicial Affairs offices (and people within each), town, gown, and of course Athletics and the football program. It's my sense by the end that they keep going back and forth between this being predominantly because of football, or predominantly because of Baylor (amplifying things widely present in American universities).
Of course, I shouldn't blame them, because it's all of those things. Baylor itself, as an aggressively pious Baptist institution, embracing a whole host of retrogade positions and attitudes, was a huge contributor. The place that banned *dancing* until 1996, it turns out, wasn't hip to fast-moving changes in the realms of gender equality, sexual violence, and other Title IX related issues. It's hard to mobilize an institution to respond to sexual violence when it mostly denies that sex happens (outside of marriage), and that when it does women must have consented because, well, they're women.
Football, and the pursuit of big-time success, dropped like a bomb into this "see no evil" context. There was a culture of absolute impunity inside this Athletics Department, and especially inside Art Briles's football program, that not only led to them bringing in "some pretty bad dudes" (as a victim-blaming Briles characterized some of his players), not only letting them run wild, but actively covering up for them. The book is full of horrifying evidence to this effect, but let me just drop one datum: Baylor football players were alleged to have committed four gang rapes in 2011 alone (p. 294). The program brought in a bunch of big, strong and uncontrolled sexual predators over a long period. Horrifying, horrifying stuff.
The women victimized by these evil men and institutions deserve our love, support, understanding and admiration. They demonstrate astonishing strength in the face of horrors that would crush the best of the rest of us, compounded by responses that were at best indifferent or clueless and, at worst, additionally violent. We must do better, and this book does a great service to all of our students by giving them voice.
In the bigger picture, if Champions Way: Football, Florida, and the Lost Soul of College Sports dealt with both academic fraud and sexual predation, then this book is to the latter as Cheated (about the UNC scandal - link function not working well) is to the former: a deep-dive into one of the pathologies that can (some would say must) attach to the attempt to integrate honest academics with big-time sports entertainment. I continue to think that we can have it all, but taking seriously the issues raised by books like this, and acting accordingly, are essential if that optimistic conclusion is to be realized to any satisfactory degree.
And, at Baylor, things went very, very wrong, as Lavigne and Schlabach, two ESPN writers, ably demonstrate here. I was going to give this five stars through about the first 3/4, but I felt like at the end the authors lost their own thread a little bit, things just got a little convoluted between regents, rivals to the regents, the university, its own Title IX and Judicial Affairs offices (and people within each), town, gown, and of course Athletics and the football program. It's my sense by the end that they keep going back and forth between this being predominantly because of football, or predominantly because of Baylor (amplifying things widely present in American universities).
Of course, I shouldn't blame them, because it's all of those things. Baylor itself, as an aggressively pious Baptist institution, embracing a whole host of retrogade positions and attitudes, was a huge contributor. The place that banned *dancing* until 1996, it turns out, wasn't hip to fast-moving changes in the realms of gender equality, sexual violence, and other Title IX related issues. It's hard to mobilize an institution to respond to sexual violence when it mostly denies that sex happens (outside of marriage), and that when it does women must have consented because, well, they're women.
Football, and the pursuit of big-time success, dropped like a bomb into this "see no evil" context. There was a culture of absolute impunity inside this Athletics Department, and especially inside Art Briles's football program, that not only led to them bringing in "some pretty bad dudes" (as a victim-blaming Briles characterized some of his players), not only letting them run wild, but actively covering up for them. The book is full of horrifying evidence to this effect, but let me just drop one datum: Baylor football players were alleged to have committed four gang rapes in 2011 alone (p. 294). The program brought in a bunch of big, strong and uncontrolled sexual predators over a long period. Horrifying, horrifying stuff.
The women victimized by these evil men and institutions deserve our love, support, understanding and admiration. They demonstrate astonishing strength in the face of horrors that would crush the best of the rest of us, compounded by responses that were at best indifferent or clueless and, at worst, additionally violent. We must do better, and this book does a great service to all of our students by giving them voice.
In the bigger picture, if Champions Way: Football, Florida, and the Lost Soul of College Sports dealt with both academic fraud and sexual predation, then this book is to the latter as Cheated (about the UNC scandal - link function not working well) is to the former: a deep-dive into one of the pathologies that can (some would say must) attach to the attempt to integrate honest academics with big-time sports entertainment. I continue to think that we can have it all, but taking seriously the issues raised by books like this, and acting accordingly, are essential if that optimistic conclusion is to be realized to any satisfactory degree.
July 6, 2020
It’s hard to review this book without addressing the topic and expressing disappointment in Baylor’s handling of the subject
I went to a rival college, so I read this already not being a supporter of Baylor. I also started reading this 3 years ago, but the book got lost and I found it recently. I wish I’d read it three years ago when the reports were more fresh, but it’s heartbreaking to read about Baylor’s failures to address the issues and the treatment of young girls. There were clearly miscommunication issues with several campus departments, police, etc.
It is so fundamental to talk about and address sex abuse to students. I very clearly remember a presentation during freshman week that said “no means NO!” And despite how cheesy the roleplay was, it told me my school cared. I don’t care how religious a school is, to pretend premarital sex doesn’t happen is not appropriate in the 2010’s! That’s not a reasonable campus culture. I honestly didn’t realize how religious Baylor is, but I think all schools should orientate students with an open mind and provide appropriate resources, not excuses, and support. It seems like Baylor failed incoming students without it. 18 year old girls are impressionable and should not be expected to always do the right thing. (I.e, not drink, scream, report abuse immediately, and so on)
The Waco community also failed. Rape victims should feel validated and be given the benefit of the doubt by police officers, even if they are drunk. It seems like the Waco police and Baylor campus police didn’t do good enough.
The book obviously focused on football players and it’s disgusting that the football team was seen as more important than victims. It read like a really long article where you learn the multiple ways Baylor athletics, police, Title IX department, counseling, etc, failed to do their part to bring Baylor forward in progress in addressing this issue. We are a few years removed from the firing of Coach Briles and the attempt to reform. I sincerely hope Baylor has made appropriate changes and progress. It sounds like they were attempting the next year. It seems like Baylor had a bigger issue than other schools, but hopefully other schools have taken positive things from all of this, like better trained counselors in trauma, resources and programs supporting victims and sending a message that the school does not support rape.
I went to a rival college, so I read this already not being a supporter of Baylor. I also started reading this 3 years ago, but the book got lost and I found it recently. I wish I’d read it three years ago when the reports were more fresh, but it’s heartbreaking to read about Baylor’s failures to address the issues and the treatment of young girls. There were clearly miscommunication issues with several campus departments, police, etc.
It is so fundamental to talk about and address sex abuse to students. I very clearly remember a presentation during freshman week that said “no means NO!” And despite how cheesy the roleplay was, it told me my school cared. I don’t care how religious a school is, to pretend premarital sex doesn’t happen is not appropriate in the 2010’s! That’s not a reasonable campus culture. I honestly didn’t realize how religious Baylor is, but I think all schools should orientate students with an open mind and provide appropriate resources, not excuses, and support. It seems like Baylor failed incoming students without it. 18 year old girls are impressionable and should not be expected to always do the right thing. (I.e, not drink, scream, report abuse immediately, and so on)
The Waco community also failed. Rape victims should feel validated and be given the benefit of the doubt by police officers, even if they are drunk. It seems like the Waco police and Baylor campus police didn’t do good enough.
The book obviously focused on football players and it’s disgusting that the football team was seen as more important than victims. It read like a really long article where you learn the multiple ways Baylor athletics, police, Title IX department, counseling, etc, failed to do their part to bring Baylor forward in progress in addressing this issue. We are a few years removed from the firing of Coach Briles and the attempt to reform. I sincerely hope Baylor has made appropriate changes and progress. It sounds like they were attempting the next year. It seems like Baylor had a bigger issue than other schools, but hopefully other schools have taken positive things from all of this, like better trained counselors in trauma, resources and programs supporting victims and sending a message that the school does not support rape.
January 3, 2018
This was a very good look at the sexual assault scandals coming out of Baylor University. The authors are two reporters for ESPN's Outside the Lines who've looked at the issue for that show and do a more in-depth study here.
Baylor's crisis came out a desire to brand their school that is to Southern Baptists what Notre Dame was to Catholics. To that end, they took the same approach: build a great football team and use that as the "front porch" to attract attention. Two problems. First, that led to minimal oversight of the football players, and that led to a disproportionate share of sexual assaults, rapes, and even reported gang rapes by Baylor's football players. Second, the conservative nature of the Southern Baptist community and leadership of the school made them minimize oversight of sexual matters in general. After all, Baptists shouldn't be doing that sort of behavior. You weren't supposed to drink at all on campus.
The book centers itself on the women who were sexually assaulted and what they've gone through. Many have talked to the authors (most only use pseudonyms, not their real names) as they discuss what happened to them, and the horrible non-responses by Baylor's authorities. Ultimately, it's a story of these women more than of an institution. That gives the book a lot of its power as it allows for more emotional resonance that a series of stats.
The book also notes how what happened at Baylor isn't just something that happens at Baylor. As the book's subtitle indicates, this is a sexual assault crisis in college football in general. Football coach Art Briles hasn't worked since getting fired for his dereliction of duty at Baylor, and many of his assistants have had trouble getting work, too. That gets the attention of college football coaches. Then again, the book notes that after the scandal, enrollment applications to Baylor reached a new all-time high at Baylor. Whatever happened, it hasn't dissuaded people from coming, and the school makes most of it's money from tuition.
The book is a bit hard to follow at times as it goes from one assault to the next. Though there is a timeline in back and each chapter begins with a date of when things are going, it's still a bit confusing at times with so many different moving parts.
Baylor's crisis came out a desire to brand their school that is to Southern Baptists what Notre Dame was to Catholics. To that end, they took the same approach: build a great football team and use that as the "front porch" to attract attention. Two problems. First, that led to minimal oversight of the football players, and that led to a disproportionate share of sexual assaults, rapes, and even reported gang rapes by Baylor's football players. Second, the conservative nature of the Southern Baptist community and leadership of the school made them minimize oversight of sexual matters in general. After all, Baptists shouldn't be doing that sort of behavior. You weren't supposed to drink at all on campus.
The book centers itself on the women who were sexually assaulted and what they've gone through. Many have talked to the authors (most only use pseudonyms, not their real names) as they discuss what happened to them, and the horrible non-responses by Baylor's authorities. Ultimately, it's a story of these women more than of an institution. That gives the book a lot of its power as it allows for more emotional resonance that a series of stats.
The book also notes how what happened at Baylor isn't just something that happens at Baylor. As the book's subtitle indicates, this is a sexual assault crisis in college football in general. Football coach Art Briles hasn't worked since getting fired for his dereliction of duty at Baylor, and many of his assistants have had trouble getting work, too. That gets the attention of college football coaches. Then again, the book notes that after the scandal, enrollment applications to Baylor reached a new all-time high at Baylor. Whatever happened, it hasn't dissuaded people from coming, and the school makes most of it's money from tuition.
The book is a bit hard to follow at times as it goes from one assault to the next. Though there is a timeline in back and each chapter begins with a date of when things are going, it's still a bit confusing at times with so many different moving parts.
April 21, 2022
I work in Title IX on a university campus. I am very passionate about my job, but it is not easy work. Every day, I have some incredibly difficult conversations. Complainants have to relive an alleged traumatic experience. Respondents have to respond to these traumatic allegations. Witnesses have to unpack a whirlwind of information. Families and friends can be left in the dark. Students and peers feel abandoned or ignored. No matter the outcome of an investigation or hearing, there is rarely rejoicing.
Sexual assault is a very real problem in almost every facet of society. In higher education, sexual assault seems ever-present. From about 2009 to 2017, Baylor University appeared at the epicenter of sexual assault.
Violated details the scandals surrounding Baylor and the city of Waco. This book contains a long list of troublemakers: football players, athletes, coaches, athletic administration, university administrators, campus safety officers, police officers, and apathetic prosecutors. This book details the systemic problems that created such an abhorrent culture that allowed (or even promoted) sexual assaults at Baylor.
The Christian culture adds another layer of complexity to the culture. Baylor, like most Christian college campuses, explicitly prohibits alcohol, drugs, partying, and sex. Therefore, when sexual assault claims started to surface, the Baylor community dismissed these cases as anomalies or simple mistakes. The Baylor community just could not accept that their Christ-centered institution was no different from its secular peers.
Violated is a very interesting book. If you want a better understanding of sexual assault on college campuses and how the system can destroy a victim, this is the book to read.
Sexual assault is a very real problem in almost every facet of society. In higher education, sexual assault seems ever-present. From about 2009 to 2017, Baylor University appeared at the epicenter of sexual assault.
Violated details the scandals surrounding Baylor and the city of Waco. This book contains a long list of troublemakers: football players, athletes, coaches, athletic administration, university administrators, campus safety officers, police officers, and apathetic prosecutors. This book details the systemic problems that created such an abhorrent culture that allowed (or even promoted) sexual assaults at Baylor.
The Christian culture adds another layer of complexity to the culture. Baylor, like most Christian college campuses, explicitly prohibits alcohol, drugs, partying, and sex. Therefore, when sexual assault claims started to surface, the Baylor community dismissed these cases as anomalies or simple mistakes. The Baylor community just could not accept that their Christ-centered institution was no different from its secular peers.
Violated is a very interesting book. If you want a better understanding of sexual assault on college campuses and how the system can destroy a victim, this is the book to read.
September 28, 2017
"According to national statistics, at least one in five college women experience some type of sexual assault".
Paula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach are ESPN reporters who have done a comprehensive investigation into injustices and cover ups of a prominent Christian college, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas.
The book contains many stories of Baylor female students who reported sexual assaults by athletes to their university over a period of several years which went unanswered until the administration had to confront the realities happening on its campus. Not only did the university ignore the victims’ cries, but the city police department was inconsistent in their investigations and withheld police reports involving students and student athletes. One case included five victim reports involving the same male football player, a serial rapist. Once this sexual assault case came out, other cases (old and new) started surfacing.
See my complete review at The Eclectic Review .
Paula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach are ESPN reporters who have done a comprehensive investigation into injustices and cover ups of a prominent Christian college, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas.
The book contains many stories of Baylor female students who reported sexual assaults by athletes to their university over a period of several years which went unanswered until the administration had to confront the realities happening on its campus. Not only did the university ignore the victims’ cries, but the city police department was inconsistent in their investigations and withheld police reports involving students and student athletes. One case included five victim reports involving the same male football player, a serial rapist. Once this sexual assault case came out, other cases (old and new) started surfacing.
See my complete review at The Eclectic Review .
March 3, 2021
Violated was published and released in 2017, which is also one of the key years in the #Me Too movement. So when you picked up this book and started reading it, you knew what you were getting yourself into.
One of the things I liked about this book was that the main author of this book, Paula Lavigne, wasn't on some crusade to down and condemn men for how they've treated women over time. Lavigne was objective in this book, as she tried her best to write about the rape victims' side of the story and the defendants (football players) side of the story.
There are reviewers on this page who think Lavigne and co-writer Mark Schlabach were doing a hatchet job on Baylor University and the accused [of rape] Baylor football players. Wrong!!! Did you guys even read this book? The facts and/or allegations (true or not) are right there in this thick book for you to see.
It seemed that Baylor and Art Briles were more concerned with their collective images and their own lives than the cries of these rape victims.
Reading books like Violated should let men know once again, you have to be careful these days on what you say or do to women, because women are waaaaaaaaaaaaay more outspoken these days than they've EVER been.
One of the things I liked about this book was that the main author of this book, Paula Lavigne, wasn't on some crusade to down and condemn men for how they've treated women over time. Lavigne was objective in this book, as she tried her best to write about the rape victims' side of the story and the defendants (football players) side of the story.
There are reviewers on this page who think Lavigne and co-writer Mark Schlabach were doing a hatchet job on Baylor University and the accused [of rape] Baylor football players. Wrong!!! Did you guys even read this book? The facts and/or allegations (true or not) are right there in this thick book for you to see.
It seemed that Baylor and Art Briles were more concerned with their collective images and their own lives than the cries of these rape victims.
Reading books like Violated should let men know once again, you have to be careful these days on what you say or do to women, because women are waaaaaaaaaaaaay more outspoken these days than they've EVER been.
December 23, 2017
While I realize this might be a controversial review for a Waco based Baylor alum to write, I think this is actually an important book for Baylor alums to read....especially those who love Baylor football. I think this is an important book for mothers and fathers of kids who are heading to college to read. While this book focuses on Baylor, I think this is an issue that most colleges are having to face and deal with. I could likely spend hours talking about how Baylor got in this position and arm chair quarterbacking what could have/should have been done differently. As the mother of a pretty decent athlete, I definitely fight against the , “you’re different, better than, special” culture in youth sports that could feed into this “rape culture” that our society is facing. I think this is an important book- gave me a lot to think about and helped explain some of what the regents had to do (even if a better crisis management team should have been in place before it was done).
September 8, 2017
Its hard to really rate this because, while its well written and obviously well researched, it is simply just difficult to read through. Just when you think "maybe they're going to turn a corner and the story's going to stop being about all the bad and about the fallout" no, its chapter after chapter after chapter of just how badly the culture cultivated at Baylor not just under the regime around the football program's rise but even going back to the basketball program's murder scandal in 2003. I could only read the book in chunks of 5-6 chapters at a time before having to stop to go do something uplifting.
Even if you think you're in the know on exactly what went down with the football program during the years covered in the book, you're going to be shocked, appalled and incensed by the total failure of the university to properly handle the situation on all levels.
Even if you think you're in the know on exactly what went down with the football program during the years covered in the book, you're going to be shocked, appalled and incensed by the total failure of the university to properly handle the situation on all levels.
October 2, 2017
Among the many college campuses criticized in recent years for their handling (or lack thereof) of sexual assault allegations by students, the Baylor University situation stands out. Largely because of its Baptist affiliation and core Christian values, many officials at Baylor not only chose to ignore accounts of sexual violence, but believed that non consensual sex simply "doesn't happen here." The authors, 2 ESPN investigative reporters, put together an in-depth, exhaustive account of allegations, police reports, witness accounts, convictions, and institutional failures. While reports of domestic violence and sexual assaults date back more than a decade, it wasn't until two high-profile cases involving Baylor football players that a deep examination was done by the university. It led to the firing of the school's president, athletics director and head football coach.
September 11, 2020
Be prepared to be angry for at least a week. I attended Baylor University for one semester- fall 2014. I transferred for personal reasons, but was not shocked to hear about the Football scandal. This book not only covers (literally) the infamous Art Briles, but also presents other university scandals that I had never heard of. For someone who loves college football and the NFL, it’s definitely a hard idea yet ignorant concept to note. Sports > Sexual Assault Victims is what the book presents. We must do better, push for trauma-informed initiatives and supports, and educate one another on this.
Fun fact: Ken Starr was one of Jeffrey Epstein’s defense attorneys in 2007 during Epstein’s trafficking schemes.
Fun fact: Ken Starr was one of Jeffrey Epstein’s defense attorneys in 2007 during Epstein’s trafficking schemes.
September 3, 2017
I knew a lot of the generalities of what went down in this book. it's the same at most college campuses, and strict private Christian campuses tend to be even worse. I didn't know all the details and specifics of Baylor's story. Seeing how active all the parties were in enforcing a culture that left girls with little safety and no recourse is harrowing, and its good that the book makes a note of that culture being on the campus outside of football. Having the football team become important just made things worse. It's not an easy or light read but it's well worth it.
October 17, 2017
This is an outstanding chronicle of the sports culture on college campuses. This book tells the story of a culture of violence on college campuses and we know it is not just Baylor. It is time for change and for administrators, alumni, coaches and students to take a hard look at what is really important. The book also shows how this culture and these events have such profound impact on the women who were victimized. The authors did the tough research that it takes to bring this to light.
December 30, 2017
Apparently the culture at Baylor was a common one, not just at other universities in athletics and the student body as a whole, but as we've seen recently in Congress, in the entertainment industry, in large corporations, etc. Maybe the young women at Baylor's courage inspired so many more to step forward to report their treatment by men in power. The book is well-researched and for one who was a Baptist in Waco for over 25 years, hard to listen to. It enlightened me about the power of the Title IX law.
January 13, 2018
4 star read. My husband recommended that I read this non-fiction book and I have to admit that it made me very angry as I read it. The culture at Baylor University that led to the ignoring of women's claims of sexual abuse by football players, among others, was hard to understand. But the complete change around is well timed with the #MeToo movement and the outing of famous and powerful men who abuse women. A disturbing but very interesting read. Very topical.
September 12, 2017
A very extensively researched and well written look at the recent and despicable history of sexual violence at Baylor Univ., most of it coming from football players and ignored by the coaches and administration. Certainly an indictment of the excessive privileges give athletes in many schools around this country.
Want to read
March 5, 2019I won the book via a goodreads giveaway, but my husband read it and he found it compelling and very disturbing. I have heard him speak to several of his friends about it and how the situation was worse than even what was reported in the media. He is recommending, but I will update this review after I have the chance to read this myself.
December 13, 2017
I expected the book to be lop sided against Baylor, but it seemed fairly written. It goes in depth into what happened, what has to be changed, and what steps Baylor is making to correct them for the future. It should be required reading for everyone working in higher education, and as a mom to college daughters it was insightful into the dangers college students can face.
May 4, 2018
I shook my head almost the entire time I read this book, frequently setting it down because I was so angry. I think the most unbelievable thing about the topic of college campus sexual assault is that it continues to be rampant and mismanaged by schools to protect their images (or theur athletes). Things in this book have happened in the last year, that's just infuriating.
June 9, 2018
Very informative, some pages were tough because it depicted gang rapes and other issues of folks not listening and violating consent.It explained institutional failure at multiple levels. At times the failure was intentional at other times bordered on a callous disregard. I'd recommend this title to anyone seeking to understand the crisis.
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