Actions need to have consequences, and in some cases, those consequences need to last longer than two years.
On Monday, disgraced former San Jose State Athletics director Marie Tuite was hired as new deputy athletics director for external relations at Southern Utah University.
This is the woman who did not pay attention to her employees' reports. The woman who kept her head down when notified about the sexual abuse on her students athletes.
This is the woman who enabled an alleged sex offender.
The woman who betrayed those student athletes she should have been protecting.
This is the woman who was named in three wrongful termination and retaliation lawsuits, and in one of those cases, Tuite was accused of bullying Sage Hopkins, SJSU’s women’s swimming and diving coach, who brought to light Scott Shaw’s sexual abuse and misconduct towards student athletes.
Shaw is accused of fondling at least 14 SJSU student athletes when he worked here. He faces federal charges because of the allegations.
The university ultimately settled these cases, but the repercussions don’t seem to follow Tuite considering the position she just accepted.
As journalists, our job is to bring forth the truth and hold those in power accountable. Hopefully, making sure people like Tuite cannot continue in their respective positions.
But what happens when the systems in place continue to uplift those who abuse their position and the power they wield? Even when the truth is brought to light?
How could she have ignored their pain?
And how can we continue to ignore their pain?
Victims deserve to be heard, they deserve to be believed. By all accounts, Tuite did neither of those things.
So why the hell was she hired by a Division 1 college, allowing her to potentially start up the abuse again?
After years of scandals and lawsuits, how was she able to continue to be in the business she loved without skipping a beat?
After years of scandals and lawsuits, how is she still being praised and lauded by so many in the SJSU community?
Dick Vermeil, legendary NFL head football coach.
Don Kassing, President of SJSU from 2004 to 2008.
Cindy Lazares, SJSU alum and current owner of Lazares Companies
Les Francis, SJSU alum, former SJSU Tower Foundation Board of Directors and SJSU Outstanding Alumnus Award winner.
Those are the four SJSU alumni who couldn’t be more pleased to give glowing praise to her new employer after Tuite got the job at Southern Utah. Four alumni who would rather stick their neck out for a person who turned her back on sexual abuse of her student-athletes rather than the student-athletes themselves.
Shame on all four of you.
We found it ironic that a person with Tuite’s track record was able to get an opportunity so soon. Her hiring is just another example of how broken our society is.
When a white woman with a track record like this is able to get another job after all the things she’s done? It speaks volumes to where we’re at as a society. Meanwhile, qualified candidates of color are denied time and time again while having to go the extra mile to even be in the conversation.
Let’s face it, Tuite’s white privilege gave her another chance. A chance that 99% of people who were in her position would never see again.
It’s sick.
It’s disgusting.
Allowing Tuite into another position of power is a spit in the face of everyone who was hurt by her actions.
Southern Utah and those SJSU cowards who endorsed Tuite should be ashamed for picking a sex abuse-enabling bully to be anywhere near an athletic department.
