However, this appears to contradict what occurred in the Gesser case, as others had named women not affiliated with WSU as being involved in the incidents, but those who were not a part of the university at any point do not appear to have been interviewed. Is WSU athletics paying for Jasons side pieces to travel with him to events? Farkas told investigators a donor asked him. The woman also said she fulfilled her duties on-time as a caddy, but did leave early in order to catch a flight booked for her by the university so she could make it to work the next day. Gesser, who led the Cougars to the 2003 Rose Bowl and conference co-championship, is often referred to as a celebrity at donor events in an apparent attempt to draw more attendees, according to the records. He played as WSUs quarterback from 1998 to 2002. She thinks of the messages on her phone. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. He is from United States. He had a full time job but all he ever looked for was something more. Receive News Headlines Right in your Inbox! The Evergreen made multiple attempts to reach Matt Almond, general manager at WSU IMG, for comment regarding the reason for Gessers departure, but he never returned calls or emails, other than one from a secretary asking what we wanted to speak about. . Nothing he was doing was OK., Bodeau said she drove Gesser back to his hotel and just before getting out of the car, he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. Bill Moos, my athletic director, was going to be there, she said. Another alleged incident came in 2014 after a donor event in Pasco, Washington. I pushed him away and I said no and he said why not, and I told him because I said no. . There was a number of eyebrows raised, Farkas said in the records. Jason Gesser has been a stay-at-home dad this NFL season, but the former Washington State quarterback hopes his football fortunes are about to improve. She did convey that the flirty text message occurred when she was a student and interning with [IMG].. The intern said she knew the complaint focused on Gesser before the interviewers mentioned his name, according to the records. Feeling that kiss on my cheek mostly made me want to vomit.. He and fellow ex-Cougar Ryan Leaf both campaigned for the position of quarterbacks coach at WSU when it became available after the 2007 season. Gessers aggressive, nonconsensual advances continued until Wold was able to free herself, she said, after which she ran toward the front door and told Gesser he had to leave. What I had been telling myself for three years was, Just be silent. And then there's the bigger picture. He went on to also say a donor had complained and questioned the decision, according to the records. You know when you aren't playing good. Wold said the recent revelations about allegations against Gesser made her come forward. and I am deeply committed to my wife . A story last week in the WSU student newspaper, The Daily Evergreen, uncovered a litany of allegations. It was like he just disregarded it all.. Updated Tue., Sept. 18, 2018 at 8:06 a.m. Former WSU QB Jason Gesser (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review). Are you talking about Gesser? the intern asked. During an interview with KREM 2, she said she grew close to the Gesser family and met Gesser's wife through WSU volleyball. Bodeau shared her story on Monday, Sept. 17. Kali. Bodeau went home after dropping Gesser off at his hotel. During that year-and-a-half, Bodeau said she had frequent interactions with Jason Gesser, who had starred as WSUs quarterback from 1998-2002. [Donor] called me and told me it was [bullsh-t] that she was invited, that it was a misuse of state funds, Ganders told investigators. Her husband, Stephen Bodeau, has tried to support her. Generally speaking, yeah, the president of a university has the authority to do a lot of stuff, he said. Since Bodeau called for other women to come forward, WSU spokesman Phil Weiler says he is not aware of any new complaints of sexual misconduct against any other WSU employee. [Gesser] ruined the school that I love and that I want to be an alumna in, she said. Gesser played college football at Washington State University in Pullman. PULLMAN, Wash. Jason Gesser, the Cougar Athletic Fund assistant director resigned from Washington State University Tuesday amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations, including a formal. Bodeau took care of Gesser's children. Shortly after, she began to babysit for the family. CougEd Hall Of Fame. "How seriously are these allegations really being taken?" After the event, Ganders said in the records, a group of people including Gesser and the former player went out for drinks, after which the former player elected to get a ride home from Gesser. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. She also told investigators Gesser had invited her to his hotel room via text late at night while on the road, which she declined. News > Spokane WSU responds to report alleging inappropriate sexual conduct by former football quarterback Jason Gesser. Essentially asking out your coworker, typically thats on the basis of their sex, she said. Wold said she then received a text message from Gesser about the night before. Alyssa Bodeau's phone won't stop buzzing. I bleed crimson for my love of Pullman. I will not allow my name to be unfairly smeared, and I will continue to passionately serve our University as a proud member of Cougar Nation, Gesser wrote in his statement. The Evergreen talked to two people close to Wold who said they received a phone call from her the morning after the incident occurred. "How many does it take for it to become an issue?" It wasn't even her own pain she was feeling. "From men.". As soon as the door closed behind me, he came closer to me and attempted to kiss me again, she said. Gesser's agent, David Dunn, has told him that the holidays are a time when non-playoff teams often sign free agents for the upcoming season. Jason Gesser was born on 31 May, 1979 in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. They were suggestive of sexual things, she told investigators. Gesser, a late camp cut by the Tennessee Titans, was stunned when he was released. When she was received the text, she was at her now-husbands house in Spokane and said the two had only been dating for a couple of weeks at the time. 3 quarterback. At 43 years old, Jason Gesser height not available right now. [Coworker] indicated that Jason had a sexual relationship with [intern], a student-athlete and Jasons intern, Farkas said, according to the notes. She's troubled by reports that WSU football legend Jack Thompson told WSU employees to "fall in line," chiding WSU employees who reported rumors about Gesser that made it to President Schulz. I continued to suppress it for three years total for fear of hurting their family, she said. Almond told investigators he met with Schulz. "It's started showing me there's a bigger picture to this," she says. Lutheran Community Services 24-hour sexual assault crisis line: 624-7273. In February 2012, Gesser was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Vandals, assisted on offense by another former WSU coach, Mike Levenseller, who was the receivers coach and passing game coordinator. Another woman with her own experience as a victim of sexual assault or harassment. It was a great way to bring her back into the fold, to support CAF and student-athlete scholarships, since she benefited from a scholarship.. Wold said she had buried that night in her mind until a year later in 2016 whenshe said Gesser sent her a text message that made the emotions of that night flood back. As people began to leave the group for their hotel rooms, she said Gesser suggested they stay longer to catch up. Schulz, who did not comment directly on the story, spoke with the Evergreen staff during a meeting on Sept. 7 and said he can step in during personnel matters. "Institutions have a responsibility to protect their employees, to protect those who are under them from these things happening to these girls," she says. Woman told the Evergreen Gesser slid hands up her dress, made aggressive attempts to kiss her. One of the most diverse banks in the U.S. can be found on the Palouse, How new NIL rules for NCAA sports are finally letting Inland Northwest collegiate stars cash in, Artist Keiko Hara explores a sense of place, literally and figuratively, in a new WSU exhibit, A global manhunt, plus: the county whiffs on federal funding; and WSU students are left in the cold, ANALYSIS: Mayoral challenger Lisa Brown says Spokane is 'stuck in neutral.' The university released a statement following that article stating that OEO completed an investigation into the allegations of Gesser and found no violation of WSU policy. ". It's one thing to read about something like this in the news, or see it on TV. One of the fall highlights for Gesser was going to a sports bar to watch the Cougars beat the Huskies, 28-25, in the Apple Cup, halting the streak of six consecutive Washington wins in the series. She said she ran out on the porch to talk to him. Idaho's head coach Robb Akey was the defensive line coach at WSU during Gesser's playing days for the Cougars. She was concerned as to why Jason had sent her a flirty text message. He started as the football beat reporter in the fall of 2017 and midway through With 39 seconds left and WSU holding a 3-point lead, the Cougars put the ball into the hands of Charlisse Leger-Walker, their best player, perhaps the ASWSU fees just one part of overall Service and Activity Fees at WSU, WSU stalls unionization for student employees, Dean of Students will leave WSU, embark on new adventure in China, President Schulz receives $125,000 pay raise for unprecedented financial leadership, Board of Regents justifies 2.4% tuition increase, WSU staff to receive salary increase next year, Campus cannabis policies ensure federal funding, financial aid, Survey released to gauge success of university work-life balance initiative, Anonymous donor gifts $1.5 million to WSU Accounting Department, Services and Activities Fee Committee votes to increase fee to $559, DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen deputy sports editor. The message said something to the effect of dont be a stranger, Wold said. Dec. 20, 2018 Just a few blocks from her apartment, Bodeau said, Gesser placed his hand on her leg. When Wold started nannying for the Gessers in 2013, she was still a student but no longer an athlete. It was purely one-sided.. Wold said she moved to the Olympia area following her time at WSU after receiving an offer for a volleyball coaching position at St. Martins University in Lacey, Washington. Farkas said in his interview with OEO that Ganders had told him the donor called and was irate because Jason dropped [the former player] off the following morning, according to the records. IAN SMAY and DYLAN GREENESeptember 17, 2018. Jason Gesser, pictured here at a Cougar Athletic Fund event in 2015, was the subject of an Office for Equal Opportunity inquiry in January 2018 regarding complaints of sexual misconduct. Im hoping it wont be a negative impact.. Editors note: The Evergreen has decided against posting the public records online to protect the women involved whose names were not redacted. I was told he would know what I was referring to.. It was devastating. OEO Executive Director Kimberly Anderson confirmed that an investigation only happens if a person wants actions to be taken or if the acts in question are egregious enough to warrant further potential discipline. Ganders told investigators that CAF staff was tired of dealing with the issues surrounding Gesser. She walked-on as a transfer after being recruited by Head Coach Jen Greeny, she said. The Evergreen spoke with the woman in question, whose name has been left out of this article in an attempt to protect her identity and reputation. Ian Smay is a senior journalism & media production major, with an emphasis in broadcast news, from Dayton, Washington. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, Former Washington State quarterback, and current athletic department employee, Jason Gesser has issued a statement denying that he has had any inappropriate sexual relations with interns or staff, and wrote that he will not allow his name to be unfairly smeared. |, Washington State University officials announced Thursday that they found no violation of University policy regarding an investigation into alleged inappropriate sexual conduct by former quarterback, and current athletic staff member, Jason Gesser. Once inside, he continued to attempt to kiss her and pushed his hands under her dress. A donor requested permission to bring a former WSU womens basketball player from California who was staying with them to the event, which Ganders said he approved, according to the records. He was released after the 2004 preseason. Almond said he met with Schulz last December to discuss the issues, a meeting which has been confirmed by the Evergreen. Hundreds of pages of public records show a number of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Jason Gesser, assistant director of athletics at the Cougar Athletic Fund, dating back as far as 2014. Brenna Peterson, one of Wolds former roommates, said Wold called her the next day and told her what happened with her and Gesser the night before. Gesser says his ultimate goal is coaching at the college level, preferably at Washington State. Jason Gesser's net worth Bodeau spoke out after reading about other allegations against Gesser. She definitely didnt want me to tell anyone else because she wasnt sure how she was going to deal with it.. Schulz knew of the concerns surrounding Gessers possible harassment and misconduct, Weiler said. What about the institutions, the power structures that let this go on for so long in the first place? When a lifelong heart condition became worse, Donny Jones, who lives near Seattle, knew by last June that hed be heading to Spokane. The same woman in question also told investigators Gesser held a higher role than her in the department and had sent her suggestive texts, including during work hours. "There were just so many girls with their own stories across the nation, and I just felt it, and it was so heavy," she says. He asked, Why? I said, Because you are a married man and you have a family.. But I dont, because I dont want to run into him, I dont want to hear his voice and I dont want to hear his name, she said. There was no funny business.. She expected internet commenters to attack her character, for friends and family to defend it. They are evaluating whether we renew [Gessers] agreement for the fall..