NAMED NATIONAL FOUR-YEAR DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR FOR 2020-21 IN THE COLLEGE MEDIA ASSOCIATION’S PINNACLE AWARDS
Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022
Volume 159 No. 9 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY
SJSU ATHLETICS
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRYANNA BARTLETT; SOURCE: SPARTAN DAILY ARCHIVES
Investigation uncovered: former baseball coach violated Title IX September 2016, resigned in 2018 after he was “SJSU typically does not disclose publicly placed on leave on Dec. 23, 2017 because of the the reasons for an employee resignation,” investigation and no disciplinary action was Smith McDonald said in an email. Recently revealed documents show taken against him. The Title IX investigation into Hawkins Jason Hawkins, former San Jose State baseball SJSU posted a news release on Feb. 12, began on July 31, 2018, when an assistant head coach, sexually and racially harassed 2018 about his resignation and provided coach filed a workplace grievance against his players during his “story time” between no explanation, which is similar to how the him with accusations of sexual harassment, 2016-17. university announced the resignation of the according to the EdSource article. The revelation is the latest in a series of former women’s gymnastics head coach, Over the course of two months, investigators sexual misconduct scandals involving the Wayne Wright. assigned to the complaint interviewed university’s athletics. Wright was forced to resign in 2018 after an 33 people affiliated with the team, including The details of Hawkins’ quiet resignation investigation found he repeatedly bullied and Hawkins, according to the same article. and abuse toward his players was first published harassed the members of the team, according The investigation reported specific incidents on Thursday by EdSource, which accessed to an Aug. 7 Mercury News article. of harassment by Hawkins, including when he Title IX investigation documents through the Those two recent revelations of abuse used the slur “chink in the armor” to describe Public Records Act requests. and misconduct from former baseball and a team weakness when looking directly at Hawkins’ “story times” were composed of gymnastics coaches respectively came about an Asian team member, according to the explicit sex references and the degradation nine months after former SJSU president Mary EdSource article. of women and LGBTQ+ people, including people known by the players and coaches, according to the Thursday EdSource article. The players were unwilling listeners, Title IX investigators wrote in the investigation documents obtained by EdSource, and they said they were afraid of consequences and had no choice but to listen to Hawkins’ crude and offensive sex stories. During story time, Hawkins would gather the players in a semicircle in front of him, with the coaches behind him, which he told investigators he wanted to loosen up the players before the game by making them Jason Laker laugh, according to the EdSource article. SJSU counselor education professor The Title IX investigation reported that Hawkins trawled the internet for sex jokes to Papazian resigned. In another instance, a Black player told the tell the players and sometimes would make Papazian resigned in December 2021 Title IX investigators that Hawkins used the himself the protagonist, according to the after the Department of Justice reported in N-word in celebration when he hit a home same article. Other times he’d make one September that year that she ignored claims run. Investigators wrote that the player was of the players the butt of the joke, naming of sexual abuse from former trainer shocked by the comment but felt he had no them. He also talked about bestiality, the Scott Shaw for 12 years, according to previous choice but to tell Hawkins it was “all good” report stated. Spartan Daily reporting. because he wanted to play, according to the “I felt uncomfortable when he said the jokes, SJSU counselor education professor same article. but I never talked to the coach,” one player Jason Laker said he feels angry about the Hawkins, who initially denied to told the Title IX investigators, according to recently revealed investigations of Hawkins investigators that he used the slur, changed the EdSource article. “The jokes were foul and and Wright, undermining his feelings toward his story stating he did but meant it in unnecessary,” another player said. the university’s administration. “a playful way,” according to the EdSource As the season wore on, the investigators “It’s hard for me to understand. I have a article. were told, story time became more unpopular. doctorate in higher ed. This is 30 years I have He told investigators he “believed this “Some of the student-athletes indicated been working in higher ed. I am literally a action was okay because the player had done they could tell the assistant coaches were not global expert on higher ed,” Laker said in something positive and additionally, the in favor of the jokes by their behavior and a Zoom call. “For the life of me, I do not player did not object,” according to the facial expressions,” investigators wrote in the understand the mindset that gravitates toward EdSource article. investigation report that was obtained by hiding and suppressing and containing.” As Title IX investigators began looking EdSource. “They stated the coaches would Michelle Smith McDonald, SJSU senior into the workplace grievance filed by the look away, put their heads down or not attend director of media relations, said the details of assistant coach, it was revealed that Hawkins the pre-game story time.” Hawkins’ resignation were not made public had been conducting more team practices Hawkins, who assumed his position in because of privacy concerns. than the NCAA allows. In turn, a second By Rainier de Fort-Menares STAFF WRITER
It’s hard for me to understand. I have a doctorate in higher ed. This is 30 years I have been working in higher ed. I am literally a global expert on higher ed. For the life of me, I do not understand the mindset that gravitates toward hiding and suppressing and containing.
investigation was also conducted, according to the EdSource article. Months after resigning in February 2018, Hawkins assumed the roles of the assistant principal and athletic director at a high school in Plumas County, which is in northern Sierra Nevada. The Plumas County Unified School District suspended Hawkins on Friday in the wake of EdSource’s reporting while the district investigates “potential misconduct” since he joined, according to a Friday EdSource article. Plumas Superintendent William Roderick declined to comment to EdSource about Hawkins’ suspension, but he had told the reporter on Sept. 6 that Hawkins was working that day, according to the EdSource article. Smith McDonald said SJSU didn’t receive a request for reference of employment from the Plumas County Unified School District. She said the university adhered to California State University Policy Item V, which states that CSUs are required to share employee records that relate to job performance and history. Laker said he believes SJSU is constantly responding to scandals of misconduct instead of institutionally preventing them. He said if the university was to actually put efforts toward reform, then it would be common practice to fire someone when they violate policies of Title IX and harassment, discrimination and retaliation. “That to me is a very powerful accountability tool for prevention,” Laker said. “But no, you bargain and try to stick around and then if it doesn’t look like it’s working, you resign and move on to the next job,” he said. “Anything that happens with those people who go elsewhere, San Jose State is morally culpable, in addition to whoever else.” He said he believes more victims and investigations at SJSU will eventually come to light because the university hasn’t scratched the surface of institutional restructuring that would exemplify impressive integrity. “This university, like so many, just not does not have the moral courage to own up to its failures beyond the superficial talking point,” Laker said.
Follow Rainier on Twitter @demenares Bryanna Bartlett and Nathan Canilao contributed to this article.