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He . Bodeau won't be satisfied until the dozens of women who messaged her are comfortable sharing their experiences with institutions like WSU. , money, salary, income, and assets. Suspicious actions with and sometimes in front of donor guests. The original print version of this article was headlined "Them, Too". Weiler also said he encourages anyone who has concerns or knows of actions that may cross a line to make a formal complaint. Wold said she moved to the Olympia area following her time at WSU after receiving an offer for a volleyball coaching position at St. Martins University in Lacey, Washington. She had been asked by Kali Gesser, Jasons wife and part of the Cougar volleyball coaching staff at the time, and ended up taking care of their three kids three times a week, through which she met Jason. He just kept saying that over and over and I was so confused and terrified about the situation, Wold said. Lutheran Community Services 24-hour sexual assault crisis line: 624-7273. Gesser sent his letter of resignation to WSU on Tuesday. He is a member of famous with the age 43 years old group. Ganders said this situation made him realize Gessers actions had negatively impacted a donors relationship with WSU, according to the records. Jason Gesser, pictured here at a Cougar Athletic Fund event in 2015, was the subject of an Office for Equal Opportunity inquiry in January 2018 regarding complaints of sexual misconduct. It was similar to other allegations against Gesser that WSU investigated earlier this year. It was devastating. And that text made me feel like I couldnt say anything, so I decided to remove myself completely from the family. There is work that will have to be done.. WSU women beat No. Gesser resigned. Farkas also told investigators the department held some concerns over Gessers decision to invite the woman to the event. Washington State University placed Jason Gesser, a former quarterback and current athletic department employee, on administrative leave Monday after a former Cougar athlete alleged Gesser tried to force himself on her after a fundraising event in 2015. Gesser was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in April 2003. Roberts also said Wold told her she didnt want to be involved with the Gesser family going forward. Farkas then went on to speak with Almond about the issue and also told investigators he reported the concerns to WSU Title IX officials on Dec. 26, 2017. He started kissing my hand. Wold had gotten a new number and forgot to block his number on her new device, she said. As soon as the door closed behind me, he came closer to me and attempted to kiss me again, she said. "There were just so many girls with their own stories across the nation, and I just felt it, and it was so heavy," she says. I didnt want to hurt the kids, I didnt want to hurt the wife because I was carrying around the belief that this was my fault, and I thought I was the only one this was happening to, and I thought if I remove myself from the situation it will all go away., Bodeau, her boyfriend at the time, said he was on the porch while Wold did homework in his room when she came out to talk and looked distraught.. She may have even expected Gesser to resign due to pressure created by her allegations and others. I was terrified because I didnt know what to do, she said. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. Gesser answered the Evergreens call, but hung up before we could identify ourselves or ask any questions. I repressed it so hard. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. Almond said he met with Schulz last December to discuss the issues, a meeting which has been confirmed by the Evergreen. Streets said. Bodeau quickly issued a statement saying she was happy Gesser resigned from his position of power at WSU. Weiler said Schulz would trust his senior managers and supervisors to make a decision on employee discipline in their department if there was a concern about a particular individual and that he would not want to override anyones decision. Gesser would not respond to the Evergreens request for comment. He started as the football beat reporter in the fall of 2017 and midway through With 39 seconds left and WSU holding a 3-point lead, the Cougars put the ball into the hands of Charlisse Leger-Walker, their best player, perhaps the Luke Tylers parents believe fraternity hazing led to his death, CBD shown to be promising in reducing urge to smoke, Two big Spring Break trips featuring Murrow students; Evergreeners, Unsealed search warrants reveal new details about items found at Kohbergers PA home, Thousands of Pullman residents oppose proposal for biodiesel plant, Campus and community safety town hall to be held in Moscow tonight, RHA votes to approve 2% residence hall increase fee, Broken Promises: Aspen Heights awaited move-in canceled for many disappointed students, DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen deputy sports editor. The story caught him off-guard, Bodeau said, and he didnt know how she was able to keep the shocking events of that night a secret. Uri Farkas, a former athletics administrator who was heavily questioned by the OEO, said people were mad Gesser had seemingly escaped any recourse for his alleged indiscretions. After Bodeau graduated, Gesser, now 39, asked her to attend a fundraiser in Tumwater. I wanted their kids to be in our wedding, I couldnt even invite them to our wedding.. "It's started showing me there's a bigger picture to this," she says. I dont see anything inappropriate with that, Weiler said. The thing that I remember the most was her telling me about the hand over the mouth and him having her head, Bodeau said. He had a full time job but all he ever looked for was something more. Weiler said while it would be alright for the university to pay for the expenses of a person at an event for a business purpose, a line would be crossed if that person was there for personal reasons. Once inside, he continued to attempt to kiss her and pushed his hands under her dress. I started to get really scared because he was not listening. It was the other women's pain. Her hand clenches the mug handle. "There's more," she whispers to her husband. The records also show Almond informing investigators that former female employee had told him about an intern claiming she had relations with Gesser. Gesser and his wife, former WSU volleyball player Kali Surplus, and their 17-month-old daughter, Jordyn, have stayed in Tennessee but a move to the Tacoma area is planned for mid-January. I decided to not contact them at all for fear of running into him or for fear that I did something wrong.. Her husband said she originally didnt want to tell him the details, telling him she had received an unwanted text message. Schulz knew of the concerns surrounding Gessers possible harassment and misconduct, Weiler said. The allegations are outlined in interview notes and records from a complaint review carried out by WSUs Office for Equal Opportunity that began in January, which the Evergreen obtained through a public records request. No ones been willing to come forward to make an official complaint, Weiler said. Up and coming bull rider, Blake Thueson has #diedsuddenly Competing in the 2022 World Finals in Nevada, he started to feel extremely ill and passed away suddenly- shocking his family and the bull riding community. He was released after the 2004 preseason. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. I pulled away. Jason Gesser has been a stay-at-home dad this NFL season, but the former Washington State quarterback hopes his football fortunes are about to improve. The couple knew each other for three years prior to dating and Bodeau said he had never seen her in such a state. I told [Almond] about it because hes my boss and I trusted him. Wold played volleyball for the Cougars from 2012-2013 before foregoing her senior season due to injuries. A former WSU volleyball player has come forward with new allegations of sexual misconduct against Jason Gesser, assistant director of athletics for the Cougar Athletic Fund. That's why the Titans signed Doug Johnson, a five-year veteran who had been cut by Jacksonville, to be their No. Are you talking about Gesser? the intern asked. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, interaction with her following a fundraiser in Tumwater in 2015, Spokane Valley Fire roundup: Multiple engines, water tenders fight rural home blaze in Otis Orchards, Downtown Spokane stadium groundbreaking set for Tuesday , Pandemic project: Dental lab owner Robert Carnell paints pop art abstracts of celebrities , Gardening: Bird feeders safe to hang this winter after salmonella epidemic in 2020 , Pandemic projects: Retired Freeman High School teacher self-publishes Welsh mystery series , Man who spent 10 years in prison in 2012 murder back in jail on suspicion of attacking women, Spokane Valley Fire asking for fire tax renewal: 'We're more than just a fire department', Getting There: Emergency closure of crumbling Magnolia Street pedestrian bridge frustrates some, Washington Legislature weighs changes to police pursuit after law enforcement criticism. Gesser said he plans to continue pursuing his dream of playing professional football "for the next two to three years and see what happens. Once in the driveway, he made an attempt to kiss her which she said she refused. The whole victim shaming that our society does infuriates me. Multiple people interviewed by the OEO said they were either aware of or had personally informed President Kirk Schulz of the concerns surrounding Gesser. I loved them like my own, Bodeau said of the Gesser children. The Daily Evergreen released a 3,100 word report last Thursday outlining a number of allegations of sexual harassment. He seemed very nice.. Bill Moos, my athletic director, was going to be there, she said. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673. During the 2006 off-season he was a quarterbacks coach at Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington. She trusted him and then that happened and she was in a weird spot.. I even told him because youre married and you have kids, kids that I love, she said. He returned to work at WSU in 2013. Since Bodeau called for other women to come forward, WSU spokesman Phil Weiler says he is not aware of any new complaints of sexual misconduct against any other WSU employee. Ganders, a regional director for the CAF at the time, and Gesser attended the event. FILE _ Former . she asks. Allegations outlined in the public records include: The Evergreen reached out to Gesser multiple times through various means, including email and numerous phone calls to his office and cell phone, but he did not respond to our attempts. In the spring of 2009, Gesser was named as the head football coach at Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, Washington. Jason Gesser is an entrepreneur and the founder of Grit Consulting, a business consultancy that provides strategic tools to help support companies' organic growth. By Essentially asking out your coworker, typically thats on the basis of their sex, she said. He filled the open position left by his successor at Eastside Catholic, Jeremy Thielbar, a former Cougar teammate. I don't know what." OEO determined it didnt have enough evidence to conduct an investigation under Executive Policy 15, but referred the matter to Human Resource Services based on information from witnesses that may violate other WSU polices or raise concerns related to employee performance and professionalism. A day later, another woman named Lindsey Streets detailed to the Spokesman-Review how, in 2015, she called police after a sexual encounter with Gesser while she worked as a masseuse. The Evergreen spoke with the woman in question, whose name has been left out of this article in an attempt to protect her identity and reputation. All told, out of the hundreds of messages of support she received, around 30 are women who themselves were victims of sexual misconduct, many at WSU. Woman told the Evergreen Gesser slid hands up her dress, made aggressive attempts to kiss her. She expected internet commenters to attack her character, for friends and family to defend it. I knew if I was honest with her that I could hurt the family., A year later she received a message from Gesser saying Dont be a stranger.. By the time she made it back home, she said everyone was asleep, giving her no one to speak with about what had happened. Ganders told OEO investigators a donor had complained about Gesser inviting a female member of the media to the Cougar Legends golf event in 2016 at the Suncadia Golf Resort in Cle Elum, Washington, according to the records. In the statement, WSU leaders said the new report was the first time an alleged victim made a formal complaint against Gesser, who works an assistant athletic director for the Cougar Athletic Fund. And then he tried again with both hands and slid both hands up my dress and put them on my butt, and I kept pushing him away and telling him no and he kept saying its OK. . Seton Catholic has named Kali Gesser wife of former Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser as its new head volleyball coach, athletic director Phil Kent announced Tuesday. For Bodeau, Gesser resigning isn't enough. After only one victory in the first eight games, Akey was fired on October 21 and Gesser was promoted to interim head coach. Generally speaking, yeah, the president of a university has the authority to do a lot of stuff, Schulz said. And I'm a stranger, and they're coming to me. I am categorically opposed to harassment or sexism in the workplace or society, and I am deeply committed to my wife and children.. Jason Gessers income source is mostly from being a successful . Officials ultimately cleared Gesser of any wrongdoing. Never once did I feel unsafe or have anything at all that would have given me a flag of caution from the way that he acted, Wold said. Bodeau grew up in Spokane Valley, attended West Valley High School and played volleyball at Lewis-Clark State College before transferring to WSU in 2012. I wanted to protect (Gessers wife), Bodeau said. The Honolulu native earned First Team All-America honors and finished his Cougar career as a three time All-Pac-10 selection, and a four-time Academic All-Pac-10 honoree. She knows if she had to do it all over, she would definitely share her story publicly again. The department can reach out to those outside of WSU if there is reason to believe they have important information, Anderson said. These feelings kept her from inviting the Gessers to their wedding and when his name would pop up, it would bring back the emotions of that night. About the same time, she started caring for the Gessers children, she said, to help out Gessers wife, a former WSU volleyball player who remained active with the team. 290. His wife was my favorite person in the world, and his kids are my favorite people.. I just tried to comfort her then and there.. Chances are you or someone you love has experienced what its like to be a caregiver while juggling lifes bills and responsibilities. Generally speaking, yeah, the president of a university has the authority to do a lot of stuff, he said. [Gesser] ruined the school that I love and that I want to be an alumna in, she said. I want to clearly state that the allegations are not true. I worry about situations like that, Ganders said in the records. He said he felt the need to bring up the concerns surrounding Gesser, despite the original purpose of the meeting being a discussion about IMG and WSUs relationship. There was a number of eyebrows raised, Farkas said in the records. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Gesser coached the Crusaders for two seasons, then left in 2011 to become a graduate assistant at WSU in Pullman. Ian Smay is a senior journalism & media production major, with an emphasis in broadcast news, from Dayton, Washington. He has that opportunity and that challenge in front of him.". He never wanted a full time job so he went towards the . On Friday, Gesser who did not respond Monday to a new request for an interview issued a statement denying he had ever sexually harassed anyone and called the Evergreen report a non-story.. He was inducted into the Washington State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016, and was also ranked 9th of the top 12 greatest Washington State University football players of All-Time by the Pac-12 Networks.