Editor’s note: This story includes mention of sexual violence or assault.
A woman who reported being sexually assaulted by a former IU football player alleged IU ignored her abuser’s history of sexual misconduct in a lawsuit filed Nov. 11. The lawsuit also claims IU failed to put in place policies to prevent assault, sex-based harassment and discrimination.
According to the lawsuit, filed in a federal district court, IU and IU Health Bloomington exhibited “deliberate indifference” to sexual assault and harassment by Connor Delp, who played for Indiana football from 2021-22.
Delp was previously withheld from all football team activities for a period in late 2021 after being accused of sexual misconduct by an IU student. He then redshirted the season and returned to the team for the 2022 season, when he appeared in eight games as a punt returner before being suspended and eventually charged with rape in May 2023.
The lawsuit states IU and IU Health failed to provide the plaintiff, who is referred to in the lawsuit as Jane Doe I, “necessary and appropriate post-assault medical care and support.”
The lawsuit states Jane Doe I attempted to go to the IU Student Health Center on Nov. 12, 2022, to receive medical care and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination, but the center was closed. She then went to the IU Health Bloomington Emergency Room, where she waited for a nurse to administer the SANE examination for around six hours before being told to return two days later for the exam.
“IU Health Bloomington did not report Delp’s sexual misconduct against Jane Doe I to IU, IU Police Department, state police or local police,” the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit states Jane Doe I was not given instructions related to forensic evidence collection and wasn’t informed of the “standards for timeliness” of the sexual assault examination. She also wasn’t given resources, accommodations or protections following her assault.
Mark Bode, IU executive director for media relations, said IU does not comment on pending litigation. Lisa Tellus, public relations manager for IU Health, said the hospital does not “have any information to share.”
A list of resources is available here if you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or abuse.
