The stalking claim filed by a woman against Wichita State University baseball coach Gene Stephenson has been settled out of court. But the unresolved questions in the case likely leave many Wichitans and Shocker fans with lingering feelings of unease — and doubts about whether WSU has done enough to address this matter, our editorial Wednesday said.
WSU athletic director Eric Sexton has offered no comment on the Stephenson case and settlement except to call it a “personal issue.”
But it’s not merely personal. Stephenson is a highly paid, high-profile public figure whose reputation and conduct are closely associated with the WSU athletic program. That makes it a personnel issue.
61 Comments
Stephenson says he didn’t do it. That’s good enough for me.
If he did do it, then phone records would prove it, wouldn’t it?
It appears to be one of those cases of I need the money through legal blackmail. I might be wrong, but no one will be able to see the court records for awhile I imagine.
Randy: I guess you’re saying this is a personnel matter so therefor not a personal matter. I tend to think that if both parties are satisfied, let it go. Life goes on.
Stalking is a big issue. And obviously there had to be something to the matter for it to have enough merit to warrant a settlement. You can’t just claim something without any evidence and have it go anywhere.
I find it interesting that the right wingers are automatically defending Stephenson. I don’t know if he’s guilty or innocent, but a settlement sure bothers me a lot.
Stalking is NOT something to be swept under the rug, it is dangerous behavior. The Eagle is RIGHT to report on it and ask more questions.
Well, it makes you wonder what Gene was thinking. But there are no criminal charges and the parties have reached agreement. So it’s over, though the press would love to keep it going and air some dirty laundry.
It’s not about airing dirty laundry. It’s about holding public figures and accountable for their behavior. And, as Political_mama suggested, just because there are no criminal charges, thanks to the settlement, that doesn’t necessarily mean there was no wrongdoing. It’s always been my belief that those who are unwilling to discuss issues in public are probably trying to hide something.
Agreed, and it’s shameful that these things are “settled” by way of cash payment….seems as though if one has enough money, they can do whatever they please and buy their way out when they get caught.
And why is it that men will sacrifice everything they’ve worked for to get a little nooky? I used to respect John Edwards for the way he supported his wife while she fights cancer, only to watch him disgrace himself and her with his fooling around….I hope it was worth it to risk losing everything and become the public joke and hypocrite he is.
It won’t really be over because people will be watching closer and maybe even holding him to a higher level of accountability. It’s what happens when doubt is cast. He earned the increased surveillance and let’s all hope it keeps him on the straight and narrow. It certainly changes the level of respect I have for him personally but I won’t project that to the university UNLESS there is another incident. He’ll need to conduct himself above reproach!
It’s NONE of your business Randy, but I guess that never stops someone with a nose like yours…one always in the crap.
Interesting how Mary and lindainks55 have already convicted Gene, yet neither knows anything really about it in reality.
Typical of those that gossip and carry an agenda as baggage.
So much for those opinions.
I don’t know if he stalked or not. If he did then he should be punished. I give the benefit of the doubt (unless proved otherwise) with one person’s word against the other’s. But it seems there are a lot of man haters that post here.
Stephenson is not an elected official. He’s employed by WSU. It is a personal/personnel issue.
It’s WSU’s problem. I think the coach is burnt out and tired and should leave, and is an embarrassment to the coach and the university, but we should mind our own biz.
Pmom – “I find it interesting that the right wingers are automatically defending Stephenson.”
Who are the right wingers defending Stephenson?
Gee did you miss the previous 13 posts sunflower?
Let me ask you men who are defending this as a private matter…when Jodi Sanderholm was murdered from her stalker, was that also a private matter? What about BTK? Stalking IS a serious matter, would you want someone who stalked your daughters for it to be a private matter????
Please, take your gods down a notch. What Randy was saying is that this is a public person who is a representative of a very public school. When their people do wrong, it is the school’s responsibility to deal with it in a proper manner.
I don’t know if the guy is guilty or not, but something is wrong there, and covering it up doesn’t help the matter at all.
I suppose you all continue to watch Bill O’Reilly even after he showed himself to be a bald faced hypocrite and liar over his harassment of women too.
The right wingers promote this attitude that its ok to treat women as if we’re objects for the conquest….no matter how we feel about it. That attiude has got to stop.
“I don’t know if the guy is guilty or not, but something is wrong there, and covering it up doesn’t help the matter at all.”–Political_mama
And it sounds as if you have judged him guilty until PROVEN innocent.
It’s settled….you have no stake in it other than being nosy.
“The right wingers promote this attitude that its ok to treat women as if we’re objects for the conquest….no matter how we feel about it. That attitude has got to stop.”–Political_mama
And you “promote this attitude” that whatever you suspect, or gossip about, is fact, without proof, and everyone should act on that.
That attitude has got to stop!
Jodi Sanderholm was murdered, and that IS fact. That has nothing to do with this and is an insult to Gene and everyone’s intelligence, mostly yours, to even make that comment!
Come on people, you know he did it. This guy has always been arrogant and thought he was above the law. Finally he got caught however, he probably didn’t learn a single lesson from it because it was swept under the rug using cash as a broom. tisk, tisk The one we should all be feeling sorry for is his wife. He humiliated her in public. The only reason he would be sorry for that is if she leaves him takes half of his precious money and maybe his new fancy house.
Just proves if you have money you can buy your way out of anything.
No Jodi DOES have a lot to do with it. See, this is proof positive that YOU DO NOT GET IT.
It stems from a lack of respect for women, and some neanderthal belief that a woman cannot make up her own mind and needs a man to prove that he is powerful and can just take her. Stalking can and DOES lead to rape and murder.
I’m highly highly disturbed at the lack of seriousness the men on the right take this. Is it because of who it is that it could not possibly happen? Or is that the fratboy attitude that if they’re at a party and drinking and they slip a pill in the girl’s drink and rape her that it was her fault that she was there in the first place?
The problem is you.
Even if Gene is innocent- the charge SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY and not poo poo’ed off like its nothing.
BlueJayPosted August 7, 2008 at 9:19 am
“Just proves if you have money you can buy your way out of anything.”
Conversely, does that mean you can’t “buy your way” into anything BlueJay?
How do all you ‘nice folks’ condemn Gene over this when practically nothing has come out about it. How do you know she didn’t initiate something and turn to blackmail when it wasn’t working out to her satisfaction, like in him leaving his family for her or being a ’sugerdaddy’. I’m not suggesting that happened, I’m not suggesting anything happened because WE don’t know.
You all know nothing, and it just reveals your shallow personalities by jumping to sordid conclusions like that.
“Even if Gene is innocent- the charge SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY and not poo poo’ed off like its nothing.”
Yeah, right…fact has nothing to do with it. An accusation is all it takes to convict and ruin a person. Kind of like what happened with that cheap lying bitch that accused the Duke University Lacrosse players of rape…like that?
You were right their screaming for their hides weren’t you? She should have been thrown in jail.
What a pile of stinky B.S.
It’s settled….get over it and quit acting like a victim yourself. You are only a victim of your own ignorance.
Hell hath no fury …
Let us suppose that Gene had an affair with this woman and broke it off. What kind of allegations might she make. It’s all “he-said-she-said” at this point.
As for “And obviously there had to be something to the matter for it to have enough merit to warrant a settlement. You can’t just claim something without any evidence and have it go anywhere.” That’s simply not true. I have seen groundless accusations go places.
Unless there is some hard evidence that Stephenson did something wrong (and not just stupid) then we should let it drop.
Con ranter Bill O’Reilly had something like this.
He bought his way out of it too.
There are many reasons a case might be settled rather than tried, most of which have nothing to do with the evidence (or lack thereof) underlying a plaintiff’s claims.
As to whether WSU did enough; show me where Gene Stephenson (or any other coach) is an employee of WSU, rather than the corporation that is the athletic department (the only member/employee of which who is a direct employee of the University being the Athletic Director).
The case is settled. That’s all, folks.
If they paid someone off for false accusations, then that is just as wrong. Nobody should be rewarded for lying. And all you supporters should be screaming from the rooftops if that is what happened.
This whole thing stinks. But just like with anything a right winger does, its ok because they’re one of you.
The fact that you all want this dropped is disturbing.
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Political_mama
Posted August 7, 2008 at 10:19 am | Permalink
If they paid someone off for false accusations, then that is just as wrong. Nobody should be rewarded for lying. And all you supporters should be screaming from the rooftops if that is what happened.
This whole thing stinks. But just like with anything a right winger does, its ok because they’re one of you.
The fact that you all want this dropped is disturbing.
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The case was settled, it wasn’t dropped.
As AVTolle stated, “The case is settled. That’s all, folks.”
Not much you, I or the dog catcher can do about it, but comment on it.
That’s what we are doing, commenting.
Get over it and yourself PMom. :D
“The fact that you all want this dropped is disturbing.”—Political_mama
It doesn’t make a bit of difference what anybody wants, it doesn’t make a bit of difference what YOU want….it’s settled to THEIR satisfaction.
What stake do you hold in any of it??? Typical left-winger attitude.
This thread is getting old, we’re arguing history now.
Paul Morrison, remember him?
How many of you lefties, after Stephensons scalp right now, defended Morrison until the day Morrison resigned?
I will have to tip my hat to Ben, on this one.
Ben said Morrison was “innocent until proven guilty” and now he has said the same thing concerning this Stephenson case.
However, the Eagle pretty much ignored strong evidence of misconduct, by Morrison, prior to the AG election.
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY is a very strong standard, in criminal law.
In civil law, in lawsuits and such?
The accusation itself is very punishing, and there is very little that can be done against someone who makes a false accusation.
Privacy?
Those of you that get mad about the “privacy rights” concerning Dr. Tiller’s patients think that you have a RIGHT to personnel files and employment matters?
Try to be fair.
This is a private matter. Just because it was a well known person does not make it a public matter. Whatever the settlement was, this woman, this woman’s attorney, Stephenson, his attorney and WSU are, apparently, ok with that settlement.
I do not know what happened, neither do you.
More good art from Crowson.
Except?
He should have replaced the whisk broom with a wad of cash.
“If they paid someone off for false accusations, then that is just as wrong. Nobody should be rewarded for lying. And all you supporters should be screaming from the rooftops if that is what happened.”
VT – care to tell us how much it might cost to mount a vigorous defense in such a case?
Good point Paul. In fact, based on my limited knowledge of the two cases the Morrison one rises to a more serious level. As I recall it involved at least a ‘claim’ of workplace professional misconduct. I don’t think the Stephenson case does and it simply looks a lot like a nasty break-up.
As many here have said – we just don’t know. And as also noted above … Duke University LaCross.
Juanita Broadrick, Paula Jones
Ben, there would be many factors involved. A full scale “vigorous defense” of such a case (as the stalking claim was filed, IIRC, as a criminal matter) might well run $50,000.00 or more if a jury trial was involved; if a civil case was filed, it could easily cost $50,000.00 or more, what with discovery costs, trial preparation, motions, etc., involved.
BTW, memory fails on whether the initial claim was filed in the City (trial in the Municipal Court; appealable by the defendant to District Court for a trial de novo if convicted); if so, then the costs of defense for both trials could well exceed the costs of defending a civil case. Again, there would be discovery, etc. involved.
The above are estimates, based upon a “full court press” vigorous defense. The actual costs could easily be much less, of course, depending upon the way the case proceeded. And, these costs are just for defense. Remember, if a “criminal” matter, there would be substantial costs to the prosecution (read taxpayers) as well.
What must be remembered about a “he said, she said” case is the need for there to be substantiating evidence if available, which necessarily would involve a great deal of investigation, interviewing potential witnesses, etc, authentication of any documentary evidence. This is why the costs of defending any case “vigorously” are as high as they are.
And, the above do not reflect days lost from working by either party, for example.
Thanks VT. Now, as my attorney, what do you suggest if we have, say, an offer to settle if we cave for 25 grand?
I merely leave it to you, the client, on how you wish to proceed, after a full exploration of the facts involved. For example, do you want to make a counteroffer of, say, $5,000.00 and negotiate from there? Do you want to go “full out” to trial? Do you wish to cave and pay the $25,000.00 to just get it over with? Those are the client’s decisions to make, not the attorney’s.
Thanks VT for the honest appraisal. And I think it does cast a light on Gene’s possible predicament.
Things can come up in a trial that are completely unexpected, as well.
Trials are risky, as well as being expensive.
You are welcome, Ben. And this for anyone who is gasping at the numbers I posted; these relate to a full blown, vigorous defense of a very public figure in a case that would generate a great deal of public interest in the media, and not the typical “stalking” case involving an accused who is just another citizen, no murder, etc., involved. While that may not seem to some to make any difference, it does.
Franklin, you are most correct in those assertions.
The reason there is lack of evidence is because this has been hushed up. Doesn’t anybody think it is strange that there has been no mention of this until after baseball season was over and now all of a sudden he has settled? Folks who know Gene personally were not surprised by the allegations or the cover up and each and every one of them could have told you the outcome. Thats’ how it works if you have enough money to buy people.
I know some women who are WSU athletics boosters who were not in the least surprised when reports of the charges against Stephenson first came up.
Apparently a lot of them have been targets of his “tomcattin’.” Although, they said he usually got the message when his advances were rebuffed.
These include people who have contributed significant funds to help make Stephenson a big fish in this small town.
There’s certainly a possibility that this particular plaintiff’s charges are specious. But WSU — and Stephenson himself — knew there was a lot of stuff none of them wanted to be aired in open court.
Like with the Land of the Blind with the one-eyed king, Stephenson heads a fair-to-middlin’ program in a third-rank sport at a third-rate college. That’s what makes you a celebrity in Doo-Dah.
“Thats’ how it works if you have enough money to buy people.”
And it just as easily could be that this is the way it works when you do a good job of blackmailing people with money.
If so, Monkeyhawk (and jdh88pdh) have provided yet another reason for settlement of a case even where the claims made by the party in question are baseless.
BTW, P-M, I’m not a supporter of Mr. Stephenson. If you find fault here, wanting his hide for his alleged misconduct, your anger should be directed to the party who settled, rather than going to trial.
Employers are wasting millions on “sensitivity training” and the like.
Often, the classes are run by people with dubious credentials.
There is not much evidence that these classes do any good.
The primary purpose seems to be “creating a paper trail” so that the organization can show, in court, that they TRIED to prevent bad behavior.
We have all known women who send raunchy emails, make colorful jokes and otherwise do things that no man, with an ounce of sense, would do on the job. And we have then seen these very same women make accusations against men, when it suited them.
We also have mothers, daughters and sisters. We don’t want anyone to be mistreated.
I ask the women out there to remember your Fathers, brothers and sons, and to be just as worried about false charges.
“We have all known women who send raunchy emails, make colorful jokes and otherwise do things that no man, with an ounce of sense, would do on the job”
Where do you think I get my best jokes!
;)
I’m sure Stephenson didn’t want this aired in court because people who have been wronged by him would come out of the woodwork when the case was smeared all over the paper and TV. Some people settle because they are threatened by people with enough power to carry out such threats. In this day of high fuel prices and home foreclousers a large sum of money from a cash settlement is more important to some than ones diginity. That’s why Gene and others like him get away with this kind of behavior.
I agree women can be stalkers and harrassers just as easily be men but this forum is about Gene Stephenson and the allegations against him.
My boss wants me to go to Sexual Harassment Training.
I’m sure that I’m already pretty good at it, but I’m always game for additional training. I’m expensing it under “Continuing Education.”
I’ll let y’all know if my skills improve.
Penn and Teller had a pretty funny piece on “Sensitivity Training” on Showtime.
Yah, they are crude and Penn would have a better audience if he didn’t use the F word so much, but if you get past that, they are very funny.
I do not recall anyone saying that we should sweep what Morrison did under the rug. However, SHE was involved in an ongoing affair WITH him, until she didn’t get what she wanted…and then ran to Phile Kline to save her own skin.
I repeat, Morrison was NOT innocent, but the stupid affair ruined his career. Not at all the same as STALKING someone, although I’ll admit the first can lead to the latter, which never seemed to be the case in Morrison.
And to compare this to Tiller…WTF. Stalking is a danger. A woman choosing her own medical decisions is not.
That’s a huge SSSTTTRRREEETTTCCCHHH even for you.
Good to know that Paul is against proactive measures to cut down and squash harassment in the workplace. By the way, since such measures have taken over, women are far less likely to be harassed. But if you think that’s a waste of money- I hope that you become the object of some big gay man’s harassment at your work.
I remember when Rusty Eck croaked while facing charges of patronizing an underage prostitute. The only one eulogizing him on TV was Stephenson — out behind Eck Stadium in sunglasses and glancing around furtively. Movers. Shakers. Stalkers.
Paul makes a good point about raunchy jokes and emails. As I noted, I get some of the funniest from my female friends and co-workers. I think it is simply part of what we are that we often enjoy off-color humor. So, just where is the line? I really don’t know – perhaps that is part of the training. I tend to decide what kinds of jokes to tell someone by what kind they tell me.
Another problem can arise if I comment to a co-worker that she looks nice today. Again – where is the line? I tend to draw that one with this: Would I get upset if someone said that to my wife? If the answer is yes then I don’t say it either. But if the answer is no then I go ahead.
In an employment law class with a female co-worker SHE made the same comment – why should she not compliment a male on his appearance. Of course, I did have to sort of ’slap her down’ for that. She obviously would need to see an eye doctor!
There is nothing wrong with innocently telling your coworker that they look nice. There IS a problem when you say it like you’re wanting to rip her clothes off.
And yes, there is a woman who sends on questionable emails to my husband…jokes. One had a naked baby in it- which was hysterical. But I told hubby he’d better get that off his computer ASAP and ask her not to send any more of those. Just never know what they’re classifying as kiddy porn nowadays.
Where does Gene Stephenson go to get his reputation back? Oh I know, p-mommy, lindaink55 and some others want to point at an undisclosed out of court settlement as proof of guilt. After all, why would an innocent man settle with his accuser? Well, lets look at this from his point of view. GS is a well known public figure who represents a large public institution. His wife is also a well known public figure. A trial would be (for Wichita) a media circus which would probably come down to a He said She said deal. Even if he was found not guilty, he would spend lots of money and his reputation would be in tatters. I’m sure he reluctantly settled upon advice of his Attorney. The little gold digger got what she wanted too.
Maybe it would be easier for some of us to believe some of these women if it wasn’t for some of the hoaxes we have seen like Tawana Brawley and Anita Hill, where out right lies were told about innocent men, not for financial gain but to destroy these men. In the case of Anita Hill, feminists were quoted as saying that the accusations must be fully investigated despite the lack of any credible evidence, because of the “seriousness of the allegations”. Using false sexual harassment claims for political or financial gain has become all to common in this Country. Like I said at the beginning. Where do these men go to get their reputations back?
The way Gene Stephenson ensure a good reputation is to conduct himself in a manner that is above reproach. It’s all up to him!
The way a poster such as yourself remains believable and credible is to leave posts to stand for what that poster typed, not your interpretation.
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lindainks55
Posted August 7, 2008 at 10:02 pm | Permalink
The way Gene Stephenson ensure a good reputation is to conduct himself in a manner that is above reproach. It’s all up to him!
The way a poster such as yourself remains believable and credible is to leave posts to stand for what that poster typed, not your interpretation.
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Unless it’s Bill Clinton, then it’s a personal matter and no one’s business.
Double standards.
Typical hypocrites, the Libs.
Anita Hill DID NOT LIE. I agree that women who lie about these things, I cannot stand them. They really hurt women who have been hurt….and I’d like a few minutes in a room alone with women who do that.
It sounds to me as if Gene made his own. Many here are saying it was just a matter of time. I don’t know the guy, and those statements bother me more than this case.
It SHOULD had been public. If he was innocent, then he could have been exonerated. The Duke men, they probably get more opportunities now because of what they have been through, and they DO have their reputation back.
An AFFAIR is a private matter. NOT THE SAME THING.
Seriously, how can you even possibly compare an affair between two consenting adults, and one who is STALKING someone who is NOT consenting to the attention and is frightened and wants them to stop?
You’ve never heard me say anything close to that. Your statement is a generalization without basis in fact. I am, however, very proud and quite pleased to be a “LIB,” and whatever you think makes no difference in the grand scheme of things.
Every opinion is as good and as useless as any other.
My opinion right now is that I have been awake far too long today. Still watching the little planes. Guests arriving — one in flight from Houston and another in flight from Minn / St. Paul. Hope I can stay awake and alert to make it to the airport. ;-)
I think Bill Clinton was a great president and an abysmal failure as a husband. I have few kind things to say about his morals and many glowing comments about how he governed.
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Political_mama
Posted August 7, 2008 at 10:08 pm | Permalink
Anita Hill DID NOT LIE. I agree that women who lie about these things, I cannot stand them. They really hurt women who have been hurt….and I’d like a few minutes in a room alone with women who do that.
It sounds to me as if Gene made his own. Many here are saying it was just a matter of time. I don’t know the guy, and those statements bother me more than this case.
It SHOULD had been public. If he was innocent, then he could have been exonerated. The Duke men, they probably get more opportunities now because of what they have been through, and they DO have their reputation back.
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Or, he didn’t want the details of the “affair” made public.
There is no evidence presented to the public that there was harassment, the case was settled out of court.
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