University of Wisconsin officials released a report Tuesday night detailing an incident in which John Chadima, former senior associate athletic director, allegedly sexually assaulted a male Athletic Department student employee during the football team’s trip to the Rose Bowl.
The 30 page report, completed by a four-person independent review panel assembled by interim Chancellor David Ward, details an interview with a male student, “John Doe,” in which he described the alleged sexual assault that led to Chadima’s resignation Jan. 6.
According to the report, Chadima hosted a party the night of Dec. 30, 2011 for Athletic Department staff and student employees, some of whom were under the age of 21. Alcohol was present.
Later that night, Chadima asked Doe to continue drinking with him. Doe alleges Chadima removed his belt and placed his hand inside his pants on his genitals. Chadima allegedly then asked “What are you going to do about it”? and threatened to fire the student.
Doe brought his allegations to his immediate superior at around 3:15 a.m. Though he detailed the incident, he said he did not want to disrupt preparations for the Rose Bowl. Several more people were told in the ensuing hours, but it was not until the crew returned to Madison that police and university officials were alerted.
In response to the report, Chadima said in a statement released earlier in the day he was “deeply saddened by the contents of this review.” He said the report was not reflective of his lifestyle, but added he is taking steps to correct problems with alcohol.
“I make no excuses and have come to the realization that over the past few months, alcohol has controlled and consumed my life,” Chadima said in the statement. “I will take full responsibility for my lack of judgment and actions that evening.”
The report added no other interviews suggested an abuse of authority by Chadima prior to the sexual assault allegation. Other student employees reportedly described him as friendly and highly respected.
UW’s Division of Information Technology staff also examined records contained in Chadima’s office computer and university-issued cell phone at the panel’s request.
They found a series of text messages from his phone sent to a student employee the same night of the sexual assault allegation, demanding the student come to Chadima’s hotel room and threatening to fire him if he did not comply.
“This has been a tragic and deeply disturbing experience for John Doe, his fellow student employees and the staff in the Athletic Department,” the report said. “What has been alleged is not only a sexual assault but also a serious breach of trust within a community that we heard described … as a tight-knit and supportive family.”
The panel recommended UW review issues surrounding alcohol after university staff said they were unaware of any regulations that would provide guidelines for events in off-campus facilities.
However, they said Doe took the appropriate steps in reporting the incident and various UW offices had attempted to alert faculty and staff of the importance of responding directly and quickly to reports of sexual assault.
Alvarez and other Athletic Department officials were aware of Chadima’s parties, the report said, but did not regularly attend them, nor was it clear if they knew about the availability of alcohol at the parties.
The report questions the appropriateness of the use of alcohol, saying the Athletic Department provided the alcohol in Chadima’s suite from a purchase made with donor funds. Thus the panel believed Chadima’s parties were, in effect, university events.
