The victim in a rape case in which four former Vanderbilt University football players have been criminally charged is disturbed that one of those players has been speaking on colleges campuses about sexual assault, the woman’s attorney said Saturday.
Alex Little, a lawyer representing the victim, said it is “shocking and disturbing” that multiple campuses have invited Brandon E. Banks to speak. Mr. Banks has been charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. He has pleaded not guilty.
We are deeply distressed that these coaches and administrators treat gang rape as a mistake that should be avoided rather than the violent crime it is.
By having Mr. Banks on their campuses and recommending the presentation to other colleges, Mr. Little said in a written statement, university officials are evading the serious nature of the alleged crime.
“We are deeply distressed that these coaches and administrators treat gang rape as a mistake that should be avoided rather than the violent crime it is,” Mr. Little wrote. “This attitude is even more troubling, given that Mr. Banks has yet to accept responsibility for his actions.”
Mr. Banks has a trial date set for June. Two of his former teammates have been convicted of multiple counts of aggravated rape and other charges for their roles in the 2013 incident.
Mr. Banks’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
Working with Tyrone White, a motivational speaker and former coach who organizes speaking events, Mr. Banks has been a part of at least five presentations about sexual-assault awareness, prevention, and bystander intervention for student athletes. The presentation also includes a talk with the victim’s former roommate, Lauren Miller.
Mr. Banks pays out of pocket to attend the speaking engagements, Mr. White has said. Mr. White, however, does take a speaker’s fee.
Here’s a young man who said he would share what damage he caused to the victim, which I think is ownership.
Mr. White said on Sunday that he did not know the victim and her lawyer disapproved of the presentation and that his presentation aims to help students prevent sexual assault. He also maintained that Mr. Banks gives student athletes a picture of “real-world consequences” for their actions, “and for that I do not apologize.”
“He hasn’t been convicted yet,” Mr. White said. “I don’t know what to do with that other than here’s a young man who said he would share what damage he caused to the victim, which I think is ownership.”
In the presentation, Mr. Banks tells students that he should have spoken up for the victim and now has to live with the consequences of not doing so, Mr. White said.
A scheduled appearance by Mr. Banks stirred controversy last week at Louisiana State University, where faculty members and students voiced concerns. He had been invited to participate in a program intended to educate athletes about sexual assault and bystander intervention.
The university’s athletics department later postponed Mr. White’s presentation.
Michael Bonnette, communications director for LSU Athletics, wrote in an email to The Chronicle that after listening to faculty members’ and students’ concerns, officials decided to postpone the event indefinitely “to ensure proper time was committed to addressing any and all those concerns.”
Fernanda Zamudio-Suaréz is a breaking-news reporter. Follow her on Twitter @FernandaZamudio, or email her at fzamudiosuarez@chronicle.com.