Former FSU student Erica Kinsman has finally reached a settlement with her former university. In 2012 she brought forth allegations against then quarterback Jameis Winston saying that he raped her. Now several years later, the college announced that they will grant $950K to Kinsman and her attorneys.
Here’s what you need to know.
Who is Erica Kinsman?
Erica Kinsman is a former student from FSU who was allegedly raped by then quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kinsman initially filed her lawsuit anonymously but revealed her identity in a documentary about rape on college campuses last year. She accused FSU of “in concert with Tallahassee Police, took steps to ensure that Winston’s [alleged] rape of plaintiff would not be investigated either by the university or law enforcement,” and accused the school of failing to take necessary measures. Kinsman is slated to graduate this year with a mass communications degree from another four-year school.
What happened to Erica Kinsman?
Kinsman brought a lawsuit against FSU after the school failed to take proper precautions concerning her rape allegations. On monday it was announced that Kinsman dropped her Title IX lawsuit against the school. In a released statement, university president James Thrasher said “Although we regret we will never be able to tell our full story in court, it is apparent that a trial many months from now would have left FSU fighting over the past rather than looking toward its very bright future.” According to CNN, he also added that he was confident that “the trial would’ve yielded the same conclusion as two investigations and student conduct hearing that cleared Winston.”
Thrasher continued by saying that the school settled in order to avoid intense legal fees. “We have an obligation to our students, their parents and Florida taxpayers,” he said. “With all the economic demands we face, at some point it doesn’t make sense to continue even though we are convinced we would have prevailed.”
Kinsman has since spoke with approval concerning FSU’s new initiatives.
“I’ll always be disappointed that I had to leave the school I dreamed of attending since I was little,” she said. “I am happy that FSU has committed to continue making changes in order to ensure a safer environment for all students. My hope is that the federal investigation of my complaint by the Office of Civil Rights will produce even more positive change, not just at FSU, but across the country.”
What did FSU do?
Aside from paying Kinsman and her lawyers a large fee of $950,000, the university committed to educating their students on sexual assault. Along with hiring an interpersonal violence expert as its Title IX coordinator, the school also published a victims’ rights handbook and enforced a preemptive course for freshmen on sex and relationships.
What happened to Jameis Winston?
Winston currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but led the Seminoles to a 2013 national championship and snagged the Heisman Trophy in the same year. Despite allegations, Winston was never arrested for rape and was eventually cleared during a December 2014 hearing.
