By Caleb Nguyen and Tessa Dufore, Oct. 11, 2022
A high-profile NFL rookie’s lawsuit indicating graphic sexual assault allegations while attending a Cal State University resonated with Cal Poly Pomona officials who expressed frustration over lack of initial punishment and concern over similar cases being handled.
In a statement addressed to News 4, Matt Araiza’s lawyer Kerry Armstrong denied any wrongdoing on behalf of his client immediately following his release.
“Matt is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly, but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney,” said Armstrong.
Despite knowledge of this legal action against Araiza in July prior, his draft team, the Buffalo Bills, opted to release their other punter Matt Haack, leaving the rookie as the team’s sole punter.
Two days after the public became aware of the details of the lawsuit against the former San Diego State punter, the Bills released him from his contract due to backlash from fans leaguewide.
With the situation occurring at a Cal State University, resources remain available in case these circumstances affect any individual of the Cal Poly Pomona community.
CPP senior associate athletic director and deputy Title IX coordinator Stephanie Duke urged students who may have similar concerns of safety to utilize support around them.
“Students have to be willing to accept the resources, but I do think we have the resources,” said Duke. “And we definitely have the communication to our students to support them through any matter if you’re a complainant or if you’re a respondent going through a Title IX case.”
Araiza may have proved himself on the field for the Bills, but this major off-field incident during his time at San Diego State jeopardized the former Aztec’s future NFL career.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott also mentioned the “extremely serious” situation, one the Buffalo organization does not “take lightly whatsoever.”
The Bills’ decision to cut Araiza when the public became aware of the situation rather than when they first knew of the serious claims against him remain clear. The timing of the situation both concerned, if not surprised fans given that the league doles out lengthier suspensions for marijuana usage than sexual assault or domestic violence.
While potentially costing players a career or millions of dollars due to character concerns from problematic players like Araiza, victims of these alleged crimes must also suffer through publicity and invalidation of their traumatic experiences.
In a press conference, SDSU athletic director John David Wicker spoke out against the allegations and defended the university’s response to the situation.
“It is absolutely not true that we swept this under the rug,” Wicker said. “To be absolutely clear, we do not support any actions or behaviors that cause harm to others.”
CPP assistant vice president for Equity and Compliance Dawnita Franklin mentioned what pressure comes with getting the right details to find a solution under such strenuous circumstances.
“It’s a lot that the Title IX coordinator or the department or investigator has to try to balance in assessing what’s the right thing to do,” said Franklin. “That includes respondents and complainants and our role as neutral party fact finders. So, it really just made me think about just, ‘Wow, this is really tough work that we have to do.’ So, I think I had a lot of different emotions.”
Faculty with Title IX in their titles and professors are mandated reporters, which means they must report Title IX issues if they know about them.
A free and confidential resource off campus is Project Sister Family Services, which combats the trauma that comes with sexual misconduct or assault.
The organization’s outreach services director Christina Jimenez asserts how cases concerning athletes like Araiza cannot go unchecked.
“It comes down to power and control,” said Jimenez. “And so, we’re really sharing that, just because you may be influential or in a position of influence, to make sure that you’re using it in a positive way and not in a negative way.”
Jimenez continued, stating that entertainment value should not be held over moral responsibility to society.
“Professional sports are great entertainment, and we see it, but we cannot excuse the behaviors that are happening off the field and off the court,” said Jimenez.
If you or anyone you know has suffered from crimes like those described, CPP encourages contacting either organization for support at 909-869-4646 or https://projectsister.org/ respectively.
Feature image by Sharon Wu
