Amelia Rayno, who covers college sports for the Star Tribune, revealed in a column published online Sunday evening that former Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague harassed her repeatedly over a period of several months.
She said she decided to write publicly about the situation since Teague resigned on Friday after admitting he harassed two female University of Minnesota employees.
Rayno described how she had been in social settings with Teague on several occasions as part of her work as a sports reporter. One night in December 2013, they had drinks after a party, and she mentioned she’d just broken up with her boyfriend.
“The switch flipped. Suddenly, in a public and crowded bar, Teague tried to throw his arm around me. He poked my side. He pinched my hip. He grabbed at me. Stunned and mortified, I swatted his advances and firmly told him to stop. He didn’t.”
Rayno said Teague followed her out of the bar and into a cab, grabbing at her arm and trying to press against her.
After that incident, she said Teague continued texting her and kept up the suggestive language when she talked to him on business. Eventually, she stopped speaking to him unless it was absolutely necessary, and she avoided him “at all costs.”
“Losing meaningful access to an athletic director isn’t a situation a college reporter wants to find herself in, but to me it was the best of all the bad options,” she wrote.
Also of note: journalism colleague encouraged her to brush it off. This happens a lot in journalism https://t.co/MTghkr6zQI
— MollyPeonies (@mollypeonies) August 10, 2015
In April 2014, Rayno reported the harassment to the Star Tribune’s human resources department. She said she decided not to file a formal complaint with the university for fear it would harm her career.
"I didn’t want my career interrupted bc of a powerful man’s misdeeds" Reporter @AmeliaRayno on sex advances by Teague http://t.co/M5vDuL0ZDc
— Madeleine Baran (@madeleinebaran) August 10, 2015
Rayno wrote that she has barely spoken to Teague in the past year, and he no longer texts her.
Why she came forward now
Rayno said she regrets not taking stronger action when the harassment occurred.
“At the time, I was still fairly green on my first real beat and, frankly, unprepared for something like this. I wasn’t bold enough in my reaction. Had all of this developed now, I might have handled it differently. That’s why, in light of the brave women who did step up, I decided to put my name behind my story in hopes that it will never happen again.”
Teague did not respond to the Star Tribune’s request for comment.
U of M President Eric Kaler responded, in part:
“I deeply regret to now learn that a reporter covering the University was also subject to this type of deplorable behavior and I extend a sincere apology to Ms. Rayno. … We will look into whether any university employees who have a responsibility to report these kinds of concerns were aware of the incidents.”
Swift and vocal reaction
Rayno’s column caused a stir on social media – spurring discussions over whether others will come forward with complaints against Teague; whether university officials knew more about Teague’s behavior than has been revealed; and how people should respond to sexual harassment in the workplace.
Many are also praising Rayno’s decision to make her story public. Here’s a sampling of those reactions:
Big time credit to @AmeliaRayno for writing about Norwood Teague harassing her. You have to wonder how many women have similar stories?
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) August 10, 2015
Imagine covering that next Gophers game, the one after that… that's why courageous is an appropriate term tonight.
— Seth Kaplan đź“ş (@Seth_Kaplan) August 10, 2015
If ppl above and around Norwood at 'U' were aware of his behavior, then aren't we talking about institutional enabling of sexual harassment?
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) August 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/saralovesyou/status/630577563048345600
One of Rayno’s colleagues at the Star Tribune, Rachel Blount, revealed in a series of tweets how she was similarly harassed years ago while covering the North Stars:
Just read @AmeliaRayno account of harassment by Teague. I am shaking with anger. Brings back awful memories of Norm Green.
— Rachel Blount (@BlountStrib) August 10, 2015
When I was a young reporter on North Stars beat, Green (team owner) tried to kiss me, pawed at me, often commented on my appearance.
— Rachel Blount (@BlountStrib) August 10, 2015
Colleagues shrugged their shoulders or laughed. Like Amelia, I worried about losing access–or being taken off the beat. An awful situation.
— Rachel Blount (@BlountStrib) August 10, 2015
I hope our male colleagues understand: this is not funny. It's scary. It's horrifying. And women need your support to make it stop.
— Rachel Blount (@BlountStrib) August 10, 2015
Folks rightly outraged at Teague's actions toward women at Minnesota. He, however, isn't unique. About time schools, etc. stop tolerating it
— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) August 7, 2015
