Organization Lines Up Against Athletes Who Commit Violence

Athletes should be treated no differently than anyone else accused of violent crimes, two women who claim they were victimized by college football players said Thursday.

Citing an epidemic of athletes accused of sexual assault, domestic violence and other crimes - but who continue to compete with relative impunity - Kathy Redmond and Christy Brzonkala announced the formation of the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes.

“Society has become desensitized to the violence,” said Redmond, who accused New York Giants lineman Christian Peter of rape in 1991 while both were students at Nebraska. “They simply do not want to believe nor admit that this athlete whom we live vicariously through and regard as maybe a member of our own family is capable of deviant behavior.”

Redmond, 24, sued Peter and the university, claiming she was raped twice by the lineman inside a campus residence hall. She was awarded $50,000 from the school as part of a settlement of a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court. She argued in the suit that the school had failed to provide a safe environment.

“It is time that people alert themselves to the fact that some of their sports heroes do have a dark side. They do have criminal tendencies and should be held accountable when they act on them,” Redmond said during Thursday’s news conference in Manhattan.

She said a 1996 study by the Center for Sport and Society found that while athletes comprise 3.3 percent of the campus population, they committed between 20 and 30 percent of the violent crimes against women.

The NCAVA’s goal, Redmond said, will be to serve as an advocate for victims of violent athletes and to educate sports fans about the transgressions of their favorite stars.

“Whether it be the police, owners, judges, coaches, managers or college presidents, action must be taken to set an example for the many young impressionable eyes wanting to follow in their sports heroes’ footsteps,” she said.

Brzonkala, who accused two Virginia Tech football players of rape in 1994, said the school administration was insensitive to her and focused on keeping the players on the field rather than finding justice for her.