"Talking to Barnett was like talking to a wall." Neither Tharp nor Barnett recalls Dave Hnida saying anything about sexual harassment. "If I'd have heard that, I'd have jumped down somebody's throat," Barnett says. "Not one time did I ever see or hear about anybody treating her wrong. I don't believe she was sexually harassed. I don't believe our players would do that. They'd be in too much trouble with me." Barnett says he gave one player a "tongue-lashing" for making a vulgar comment to Katie. Katie, as a sophomore dropped out of school, despite her historical commitment to her education and her desire to play football. After doing so it is reported by her and her father that she endured several years of deep depression which affected her in every way, and yet she eventually found the courage to move forward, went back to a junior college and finally had the courage to return to football as a walk on at New Mexico. "Last August she became the first woman to score in Division I football history when she kicked two PATs in the Lobos' 72-8 rout of Texas State-San Marcos."

Many attest that her case is not isolated and that many women who endure such events, as a result of sexual discrimination, and a lack of social supervision on the part of those in society or in closer knit communities like athletic teams, do not report because they are afraid.

Some like Hnida are afraid of personal sanction, such as the loss of the hard won position on the team or even fear of escalation of events. Victims seek to find in broader society a reason to believe that the events they have endured are simply some sort of dues payment and that not every situation will be like this. In an interview coach Barnett from CU was quoted saying that Hnida had little skill for the game and that the players simply did not respect her because of it.

Katie Hnida, a former kicker with the University of Colorado football program, says she was raped by a teammate four years ago.To which Barnett said: "It's a guys' sport. [Players] felt like Katie was forced on them. It was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful. You know what guys do? They respect your ability.... Katie was not only a girl, she was terrible, OK? There's no other way to say it." Barnett was sent to his home, with pay, following his asinine comments.

Barnett's statements are clearly a reflection of his own "good ol' boy" mentality and also show significant insight into the manner in which Hnida might have become a victim. With a head like this the team stood no chance of accepting such a change, as like the author of the article states, what does her skill (which had been proven by the way through her high school years and later when she was accepted at another DI collegiate program) have to do with the fact that she was raped or discriminated against in a sexist manner in countless other ways, while the coach should have been present. It is interesting also, to look at the fact that during the majority of the disturbing events that took place at CU involving Hnida and others the president of the university was a woman and that amidst accusations she has since resigned.

Her tenure also was plagued by a seemingly nonstop parade of accusations against the football team, starting with charges in 2001 that the team was holding sex-and-booze parties for recruits. In 2002, one woman filed a lawsuit saying that she was raped by players and recruits. Two other women - former CU soccer player Monique Gillespie and former CU football kicker Katie Hnida made similar accusations. Mrs. Hoffman reacted by forming an independent commission to investigate the charges.

A look at how the system allowed such a disconnect between policy and action would likely challenge gender stereotypes as well, given that the head of the university took the heat for the actions, mainly of the football program and that she was a she at all might call into question the adherence to authority in leadership.

Works Cited

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University of Colorado Prexy Resigns amid 'Serious Matters'," the Washington…