MIAMI - Florida State University has responded aggressively to a New York Times article, questioning the newspaper’s fairness in reporting about the alleged rape case involving star quarterback Jameis Winston and saying most of the university’s responses “were left out of the story.”
“The university expresses its deep disappointment in today’s New York Times story alleging FSU officials did not properly investigate a rape allegation against Winston ‘in apparent violation of federal law,’ ” the FSU statement began. “It also vigorously objects to the newspaper’s characterization of the university as being uncooperative in explaining its actions.”
The 5,100-plus word story, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Walt Bogdanich, identified a number of flaws in the rape investigation involving FSU’s star football player. The story also raised the possibility that the miscues were not accidental, but instead an example of a Tallahassee culture that prizes athletic accomplishments above all.
The Times story mentioned mistakes by both FSU administrators as well as Tallahassee police. Among its most serious allegations: FSU appears to have violated federal law by not immediately investigating the charges against Winston. The rape is alleged to have happened Dec. 7, 2012, at Winston’s off-campus apartment.
In its statement, released Wednesday, FSU insisted that no university administrator - other than the confidential Victim Advocate Program - knew about the rape accusation until it became public in November 2013.
Sports, Pages 24 on 04/18/2014