Big 12 Conference Blocks Revenue Disbursements To Baylor University Amid Sex Scandal

WACO, TX — Officials of the Big 12 athletic conference announced they would withhold potentially millions of dollars from Baylor University until they're satisfied the school has begun reforms in response to an ongoing sexual assault scandal centered on its football players.

The Big 12 conference revealed on Wednesday it would block 25 percent of its of its annual payouts "...until the proper execution of controls is independently verified," officials said in a statement. The Texas Tribune noted this could represent a major hit for the private Christian university given that Big 12 Conference generated $304 million in revenue during 2015-16, money shared among members.

"By taking these actions the board desires to ensure that the changes that were promised are actually made and that systems are in place to avoid future problems," Big 12 Chairman David Boren, president of the University of Oklahoma, said.

While Baylor Interim President David Garland categorized the Big 12 Conference move as "an unexpected financial event" he noted it wouldn't "materially impact the overall financial position of the university," he said in a statement.

The blocked funds come amid a growing sexual assault scandal involving members of the university's football players that has laid bare a culture some describe as promoting such behavior. The scandal first came to light in August 2015 when football player Sam Ukwuachu was convicted of raping another student.

Since that conviction, university officials have acknowledged that 19 football players have been accused of rape since 2011. A recently filed lawsuit by an alleged victim claims 31 Baylor University football players committed 52 sexual assaults from 2011 to 2014 — an exponentially larger number than what university officials previously acknowledged.

In his prepared statement, Garland insisted the university has taken substantive steps in improving its response to sexual assault allegations. Two of those steps included the removal of football coach Art Briles and the ousted Kenneth Starr, who served as the university's president.

"No other university in the country has responded as aggressively and decisively as Baylor regarding incidents of sexual assaults on its campus," Garland said in a statement.

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