Lewis Adds New Harassment Claim to LSU Lawsuit
Sharon Lewis, the former LSU associate athletic director, alleged that Wilson “exposed himself” to her several years ago. The accusations were added to an ongoing lawsuit against LSU, with Lewis arguing the school retaliated against her after she came forward with claims former LSU coach Les Miles harassed athletics student workers.
LSU fired Lewis in January, a part of numerous layoffs during a staff overhaul, and has denied the acts.
In the ongoing lawsuit, Lewis accused Wilson of asking her to touch his genitalia and trying to kiss her and another female employee without their consent. She said she took her allegations to senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar and executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry, but they neither investigated nor took action.
Lewis was also fired in January, according to a report from WBRZ-ABC in Baton Rouge, after filing a $50M Title IX lawsuit alleging Miles and his legal team helped cover up the alleged misconduct.
Lewis’ legal team claimed in January that she was fired without cause in a statement that reads as follows:
The wrongful termination of Sharon Lewis by LSU is a continuation of the retaliation she has endured for reporting violations of Title IX and State Law by LSU coaches and athletic officials. LSU’s action is a clear violation of Title IX, Louisiana Whistleblower Statute, and EEOC guidelines that protect employees against retaliation for reporting violations of federal and state law. On January 5, 2022, LSU’s Athletic Director Scott Woodward, who is a named defendant in Ms. Lewis’ petition for damages in federal-state court, terminated Ms. Lewis without cause. Ms. Lewis’ wrongful termination by Woodward and the LSU administration will not deter or silence her from speaking out on behalf of victims of the university’s deplorable behavior which puts students and employees at risk.
The Husch Blackwell Report documented Ms. Lewis’ bravery in reporting sexual misconduct within LSU’s Athletic Department. Husch Blackwell also documented that Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar willfully violated Title IX and lied about their conduct. Segar and Ausberry remain employed at LSU under the protection of Woodward, while Ms. Lewis has been terminated without cause. There can be no clearer statement of the values of Scott Woodward and LSU’s Board Of Supervisors.
