Editor’s note 9/27: Michigan State fired Mel Tucker for cause, saying he brought ‘public disrespect’ upon university
Content warning: This story addresses allegations of sexual harassment and may be difficult to read and emotionally upsetting.
On Sept. 18, The Athletic reported that Michigan State provided Mel Tucker with written notice of intent to terminate his contract for cause.
Brenda Tracy, who has alleged Michigan State coach Mel Tucker sexually harassed her, said in a letter released through her attorney Tuesday that she had no intention of disclosing her identity publicly while the investigation was ongoing and only agreed to allow USA Today to publish its story after her name was leaked to local media.
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“(Tracy) was and continues to be committed to complying with and concluding the MSU internal investigative process,” Karen Truszkowski said in a statement obtained by The Athletic. “She respected the process and chose not to go to the media to preserve the integrity of the process.”
Read more: Ubben: Mel Tucker’s mistakes shouldn’t cost Black coaches, but will they?
USA Today on Sunday reported that Tracy — a rape survivor and activist — filed a complaint against Tucker with the school’s Title IX office alleging Tucker made sexual comments and masturbated while on a phone call with her after the two had developed a professional relationship because of her advocacy work. Tracy agreed to be identified by USA Today and shared 1,200 pages of case documents with the publication.
Read more: Mel Tucker preparing to potentially sue Michigan State after firing
The complaint was filed in December, and MSU hired an outside Title IX attorney to investigate. Those findings were submitted on July 25, according to MSU athletic director Alan Haller, and Tucker is set for a hearing on Oct. 5 and 6 to determine whether he violated school policy.
“After the investigation process was completed, we would have determined, what, if any further steps to take. Instead, (Tracy’s) identity was disclosed without her knowledge or consent, warranting express actions to protect her,” Truszkowski’s statement said. “Her choice to allow this process to proceed privately was taken away.”
Tracy elaborated in a statement posted to social media Tuesday night, expressing anger that her “right to confidentiality has been violated.”
“As the investigation moved forward, the behavior and statements made by Coach Tucker and his lawyer Jennifer Belveal made it very evident to me that I was going to need to defend and protect myself,” Tracy’s statement read. “I voluntarily shared documents with USA Today so that my story could be written and published after the conclusion of the school process, but also just in case my name leaked – which it did.
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“I did not want to publish my story in the early morning hours last weekend, but I had no choice because someone outed me to the media. I am angry that my right to confidentiality has been violated and I hope that those responsible are held accountable.”
Tucker and Tracy met during Tracy’s first visit to MSU in August 2021 to speak to athletes about sexual assault awareness, per USA Today. Tracy, who survived a gang rape by college football players in 1998, visits campuses to speak on the issue and raise awareness through an activism platform named Set the Expectation. Tracy was the honorary captain for an MSU spring game in 2022.
Michigan State suspended Tucker without pay on Sunday. The 51-year-old released a statement a day later denying the allegations, saying that his and Tracy’s phone conversation in April 2022 was “entirely mutual”
On Wednesday, Michigan State trustee Dianne Byrum called for the university to investigate how Tracy’s identity was leaked to local media prior to the publication of the USA Today story.
“We need to do everything in our power to ensure victims of sexual assault and abuse can come forward without fear or intimidation and have full confidence their identities and private information will be kept confidential,” Byrum said in a statement. “In the past MSU has not been transparent as it should’ve been during times of crisis, and we need to learn from these painful experiences and improve if we are going to retain the trust of our Spartan Community and move forward.”
Required reading
(Photo: Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)
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