UCO Student Says Accusations Against Debate Coach are False

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- A lawsuit filed against UCO uncovers a mountain of drama on the debate team, but one current UCO debate team member said the allegations are false.

Former students said the school is promoting a "culture of rape" by keeping the debate coach on staff, but one member still on the team said the accusations are nothing more than a pack of lies.

"I've had my future tested here. I've had everything tested by these people, and I'm tired of it, and I'm sick of it," said UCO student Josh Davis.

Davis referred to former members of UCO's debate team. They're also plaintiffs in a lawsuit that has put this year's team in limbo.

"I'm tired of letting this group of people push people around," Davis said.

Davis said he was on the debate team when complaints began pouring in about the team's coach, Eric Marlow.

According to the lawsuit, Marlow, who controlled scholarships for the team, encouraged underage drinking, sexually harassed others and used drugs on campus.

"The one that disturbed me the most is when they say there is a 'rape culture' here," Davis said.

The "rape culture" comment referred to the relationship Marlow had with one of the debate students, who said she eventually tried to end it but claimed Marlow refused to stop.

"When a young woman is saying no and cannot physically defend herself against sexual relations, I call that rape," said attorney Ramona Wolf.

Wolf is one of the attorneys representing the former students. She said their cries for help were ignored by the school and Pamela Washington, the Dean for UCO's College of Liberal Arts.

When asked if there was a so-called "rape culture," then why wasn't a police report filed, Wolf said, "The dean did ask if she wanted to file one and her response was, 'Why should I? What's it going to do for me?' She thought the school was going to protect her."

But Wolf said Coach Marlow was allowed to stay.

Davis said he still stands by the coach. He said the nine former students and three former assistant coaches listed in the lawsuit wanted Marlow off the team so they could run it and do things their way.

"All these allegations are ridiculous," Davis said. "Basically they agreed that a sex harassment claim would be the easiest way to do it, and they could do it through the university itself."

The suit stated Marlow was ordered to attend a sexual harassment workshop, to stay away from the student he dated, and he was removed as head coach and named administrator of the team.

"A college professor, faculty member forcing sex on someone who he has control of their scholarship, that's a problem," Wolf said.

Now without a coach, the team can't debate this year.

UCO has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Read the full lawsuit filed against Marlow

More:

• UCO Debate Coach Accused of Sexual Harassment, Drug Use