University of Tennessee Releases Statement on Amended Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The University of Tennessee released a statement through attorney Bill Ramsey on Wednesday asserting the school "acted properly in the matters at issue," according to the Tennessean's Anita Wadhwani and Nate Rau.

The statement came after an amended lawsuit was filed by eight "Jane Does" alleging the institution "created a student culture that enables sexual assaults by student-athletes, especially football players, and then uses an unusual, legalistic adjudication process that is biased against victims who step forward," per Wadhwani and Rau.

Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times Free Press relayed the school's official statement: 

On Thursday, athletic director Dave Hart discussed the lawsuit in a press conference, saying, "I have tremendous empathy and sympathy for the alleged victims and all victims of sexual assault," per Matt Slovin of the Tennessean.

"It is my hope that the publicity that has been generated will not discourage victims from coming forward," Hart continued, per Slovin. "Guilty parties should be immediately dealt with and prosecuted. That is my view."

Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee passed along more from the press conference: 

"We have a handful of former employees who are upset," Hart said, per Wes Rucker of 247Sports. "Some of you use them as sources. What they're saying isn't true, though."

According to Wadhwani and Rau, the federal lawsuit accuses five former Tennessee athletes, including basketball player Yemi Makanjuola and football players A.J. Johnson, Michael Williams and Riyahd Jones, of sexual assault. One other current football player at the school was reportedly accused and listed as a "John Doe."  

The crux of the lawsuit revolves around the plaintiffs' allegations that Tennessee breached Title IX laws put in place to protect students from gender discrimination. 

The report from Wadhwani and Rau detailed a piece of the filing that alleges university chancellor Jimmy Cheek, Hart and head football coach Butch Jones "acted with deliberate indifference to the serious risks of sexual assaults and failed to take corrective actions."

Wednesday, a new report from Rau and Slovin revealed Jones allegedly called former Volunteers wide receiver Drae Bowles "a traitor to the team" for helping a woman who said she was raped by two members of the football team. 

The lawsuit also reportedly states that Bowles "was punched in the mouth and bloodied by teammate Curt Maggitt as retribution inside the UT locker room," per Rau and Slovin. 

Bowles also reportedly filed a sworn declaration in a federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, with his account of the events and released a statement saying he's aware he could be called to testify in court.