Suspended volleyball coach: SJSU's trying to “silence people that are speaking up for their First Amendment rights”
In an interview with Outkick, SJSU women's volleyball associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose says the university told her not to discuss her Title IX complaint—or subsequent suspension—with media. Below, Batie-Smoose explains why she believes San Jose State is unjustly suppressing her free speech.
As OutKick reported earlier Saturday, San Jose State suspended associate head volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose.
The university sent a statement to OutKick confirming the news, but did not provide a reason.
"The associate head coach of the San Jose State University women’s volleyball team is not with the team at this time, and we will not provide further information on this matter."
Batie-Smoose filed a Title IX complaint against the school earlier this week alleging that San Jose State showed favoritism for transgender player Blaire Fleming at the expense of the women on the team.
Following her suspension, Batie-Smoose spoke exclusively to OutKick.
"We had a match today at 12 p.m. [Pacific Time] versus New Mexico. I was there at 10:15 a.m. [because] we were scheduled to take court at 10:30 for our pass and serve time," Batie-Smoose recounted.
"I walked into the building and was walking up the stairs to the gym, and I was met by administration, who asked me to step outside [and speak privately]."
At that point, SJSU officials informed Batie-Smoose that she was suspended indefinitely, effective immediately, and forced to turn over her keys and school ID. …
She was not allowed to gather her belongings from her office, told to leave campus immediately, and instructed not to return to campus until further notice.
"They said I would have to contact personnel at a later date to get into my office to get any of my belongings," she said.
Officials handed her an envelope with the notice of her suspension and instructed her not to speak with the media or any of the players on the San Jose State volleyball team.
But Batie-Smoose said she wanted to speak to OutKick, despite the mandate.
"This is just another form of what San Jose State has been trying to do – silence people that are speaking up for their First Amendment rights and for what's right," she said. … "I just want to protect women's sports and protect the members of our team… I'm concerned about Brooke Slusser and the majority of the team because they're being silenced and their thoughts and feelings don't matter [to San Jose State University.]"
[Editor's note: San Jose State University has claimed that the Outkick article above has "a number of inaccuracies." They have not specified them.]
Read the whole thing here.
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