“So let us say this very clearly, shepherds: there are wolves in the pen… we will call on you to do what shepherds do, and remove the wolves.”
The petition, signed by more than 200 current and former Huntington University athletes, will call for the removal of university leaders who were aware of the allegations of abuse in the athletics program. To see also : OHIO will welcome more than 400 business leaders from Brazil.
The draft petition, received by IndyStar, is dated October 6th and is due for submission on Monday. On Thursday, the university sacked trail runner Lauren Johnson and assistant Curtis Hines on administrative leave. The petition is directed to the University’s Chancellor Sherilyn Emberton and the Board of Trustees.
An investigation by IndyStar at a Christian college in Northeast Indiana has revealed an iconic atmosphere centered around former coach Nick Johnson. There were allegations of sexual and physical abuse and pressure to submit to doping.
Gregg Doyel: Untold allegations of sex, doping and denial in Huntington
More about Huntington U .: The ex-runner’s program claims to be a sex and drug cult
A federal lawsuit was filed Sept. 30 on behalf of two ex-runners, Hannah Stoffel and Emma Wilson, alleging being beaten by Nick Johnson and negligence on the part of Lauren Johnson, his wife; Hines; Huntington University and other school officials. HU was also charged with violating Title IX.
Nick Johnson was dismissed from his position as HU coach in December 2020 and was succeeded by his wife.
The petition calls on Nick Johnson, Lauren Johnson and Hines to ban access to university facilities or students. He asks for a reconsideration of the HU athletics hall of fame, including Nick and Lauren Johnson.
“In addition, we also call for the investigation and then removal of all administrators, board members and authorities on the Huntington campus who are determined to be aware of the abuse and unable to protect vulnerable women on campus,” the petition reads. .
The petition expresses “full support” to Stoffel, Wilson and other athletes who felt unsafe on campus. The petition refers to scriptures citing Christian leaders as pastors, and in this case, students.
“Let us say very clearly then, shepherds: there are wolves in the yard,” we read in the petition. “We understand that the ongoing process will explain how the wolves got there and why they were allowed to stay. But now we will call you to do what the shepherds do and remove the wolves.
More on the HU scandal: NAIA says it monitors new allegations against the Huntington Women’s Racing program
Austin Roark, a first-year coach for men’s and women’s athletics, took over as women’s cross-country coach. Before that, he was an assistant at Indiana Tech, where he was involved in show jumping rather than long distance running.
Three Foresters runners announced their support for Lauren Johnson and HU. Runners – freshman Addy Wiley and second graders Shelby Christman and Abby Mays – posted identical posts on social media.
The HU account on Instagram posted a weekend photo from a pumpkin carving competition.
The next Foresters meetings will be held on October 22 at the Great Lakes Challenge in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the Crossroads League will meet at Shelbyville’s Blue River Memorial Park on November 4.
Contact IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ DavidWoods007.
