Actually, the two case where JM is involved, the colleges did not "brush it under the rug". They EXPELLED a football player based on the allegations. What else can a college do? They are not LE. It was up to the victims and LE to follow up in the legal venue. They didn't. Maybe they couldn't. There has to be a certain standard of proof, evidence for even a chance of a conviction in these types of cases, and most of the time when it sexual harrassment, molestion, rape, that standard is not met. It's too important that the accused is not falsely accused. Those rights are strongly in place, and yes, the victims have to be scrutinized just as they must be in any cases. The problem with rape is that often the circumstancial evidence is againt the victim, and it comes down to her word against his. ANd in such cases, the courts cannot convict due to the presumption of innocense.
There was a case brought up here, where a victim agreed to sex, and then when she tried to leave, she says, the guy decided to rape her. Now how the heck do you win a case like that? It could be a lie Maybe when she left, the guy let her know he thought she was a *advertiser censored* and a low life and made crude remarks that cut to the quick, so she decidest to accuse him And yes, guys will do that. Pick up a girl, court her and afterwards dump her like she's garbage, and through the ages it's well know how bad the "wrath of a woman scorned" can be. there has to be evidence for a felony charge to be a go, and the nature of rape is such that it's difficult to prove.
The colleges did not care that the accusations did not make it to court and to a conviction. They expelled a pretty danged good football player, one who was a contributing player on those cases, never mind the victims dropped the charges , that it never went to cours or whatever. What else could a college do? They reacted with their toughtest sanction and it was up to LE and the victim to take it anywhere in the courts. It's not up to a colllege to decide whether a case is prosecuted. They just got rid of the guy when the accusation hit them as it was against their codes of conduct and they could do so. And all of this is years ago before this focus that is now on date rape and non consensual sex. IT's not the colleges at al, but LE and the victims that did not do their thing. Likely they could not with the evidence on the table With all of this right now, look at the actual charges out on JM. That's the best LE could do when he flew the coop, and they had nothing till he handed them the reckless driving charge by doing that right in front of their faces.
. I know of a very specific example of sexual impropriety at my very tiny rural liberal arts college, and the staff member involved is still employed there nearly 20 years later.....I'm sure it happens virtually everywhere! (Students and staff)