Author: Elwyn Pratt
The recent investigation of John Sweet was not the first time the former athletics trainer has been involved in allegations of sexual misconduct, according to a former student-athlete and Athletic Director Jaime Hoffman.
Former Occidental athlete Emily Niklaus ’11, along with at least one other student athlete, accused Sweet of making sexually inappropriate remarks in 2009.
“When he asked me what type of underwear I was wearing, I knew this wasn’t normal,” Niklaus said in a phone interview with The Occidental Weekly.
Hoffman confirmed that an investigation of Sweet’s alleged impropriety took place that year.
“In 2009, Oxy received complaints from student-athletes alleging inappropriate comments that were offensive in nature by Mr. Sweet,” Hoffman said in an email interview with The Weekly. “The complaints of verbal harassment were investigated and found credible.”
Niklaus is not satisfied with how her complaint was handled and alleges that she was discouraged from filing a formal complaint.
“Basically what they said was, ‘You’re really sensitive, and you don’t have the basis to file a formal complaint,'” Niklaus said. “So they basically just tried to get me to be quiet about it. Jaime Hoffman was really dismissive and almost combative toward me. She wouldn’t hear anything I had to say.”
Philip Niklaus, Emily Niklaus’ father, submitted a formal complaint to the Title IX Coordinator, Mary Ann Horowitz, detailing the situation. His complaint, provided to The Weekly and dated March 15, 2009, expresses concern with Sweet’s behavior and Hoffman’s response. He alleged a meeting with Hoffman was cancelled when he informed her that an attorney would be present. President Jonathan Veitch, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dennis Collins and Dean of Students Barbara Avery, Hoffman, Sweet and the soccer coach Colm McFeely were CC’d on the letter.
In Hoffman’s opinion, the complaint on Sweet’s behavior was handled sufficiently. Sweet completed sexual misconduct training in addition to the harassment training all Occidental employees are obligated to complete every two years in accordance with California state mandate AB1825.
“Oxy changed Mr. Sweet’s work schedule so that the impacted student athletes would not have to work with him,” Hoffman said. “Mr. Sweet also was required to, and did, complete additional harassment training and received a letter of reprimand that was placed in his personnel file. We believe Oxy’s response was reasonable and appropriate in light of the nature of the complaints.”
“Emily sent me a note of gratitude afterwards, thanking me for ‘lifting the weight off my shoulders,’” she said.
Niklaus explained that she sent the email immediately after their meeting and was relieved because she was finally able to voice the misconduct to the administration.
“I believed that Jaime would take care of the conduct, and she clearly didn’t,” Niklaus said.
Although Hoffman helped lead the 2009 investigation, she was on maternity leave during the recent case that led to Sweet’s resignation.
“I was kept in the loop, but I wasn’t part of it,” Hoffman said.
Students filed multiple complaints about Sweet’s conduct this spring. The issue was never formally discussed with Sweet because his resignation alleviated him of rights or obligations to the college, according to Human Resources Director Richard Ledwin.
Niklaus had mixed emotions when she heard of Sweet’s resignation.
“I am both saddened and relieved to hear of his resignation,” Niklaus said in a comment posted online. “I am saddened because I know that I was not the last of his victims, and I am relieved because he will no longer be able to prowl upon Oxy’s young men and women inside the training room.”
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