A Columbia University student has come forward to accuse former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley of rape during her time at the Ivy League school in 1994, according to a lawsuit obtained by The New York Post. The victim, now a sociologist and Ivy League professor focusing on race and culture, filed the lawsuit under the Adult Survivors Act, alleging that Wiley attacked her during his sophomore season as Columbia’s star running back.
In the lawsuit, the victim claims Wiley forced himself on her in a freshman dorm room, disregarding her objections and taking her virginity. The traumatic experience led to a suicide attempt by the victim, the suit claims.
“[Wiley’s] actions were intentionally designed to cause plaintiff severe emotional distress or were taken with reckless disregard of the significant and/or substantial probability of causing plaintiff severe emotional distress,” the lawsuit states, per The New York Post.
The victim recounts Wiley’s unwelcome visit to her dorm room, where she claims he forcefully ripped off her clothes and assaulted her multiple times. The victim alleged that Wiley verbally threatened her when she tried to escape, putting her back on the bed. When she reported the incident to Columbia administrators, her complaint was dismissed, purportedly to protect Wiley’s budding professional career.
The lawsuit reveals disturbing details about the aftermath, accusing the late residential dean Kathleen McDermott of dismissing the victim’s case based on cultural differences, claiming that people from different cultures interpret things differently. Wiley faced academic probation but continued his successful football career.
The victim, along with a friend who encouraged the assault, says she faced harassment for months after reporting the incident. The lawsuit states that the victim attempted suicide during mandatory therapy, leading to a two-week hospitalization. Upon returning to campus, she claims she discovered other women with similar stories about Wiley, leading her to join Columbia’s Take Back the Night chapter.
Wiley, a California native, enjoyed a fruitful NFL career after being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1997. The lawsuit claims that another woman reported a rape incident to Columbia’s athletics director, but it was allegedly buried until after a crucial game against Princeton. Wiley has not responded to requests for comment.
RELATED CONTENT: Sonic Supervisor Charged After Allegedly Forcing Himself On Teenage Employee
