MU athletic department creates task force for student reports

The MU athletic department put together a task force to investigate how the department handles student reports of incidents and concerns.

This follows an announcement made Wednesday by UM System President Tim Wolfe that it is hiring a risk management group to assess the findings of a sexual assault and mental health resource task force on the university’s campuses.

Mizzou Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin said the group consists of school faculty and independent prosecutors.

Not everyone on the task force is directly connected to Mizzou athletics but still have ties to the department.

MU athletic department spokesman Chad Moller said the review is a healthy exercise for the department to improve as an organization.

The group involves five people, with Dr. Rick McGuire as the chairman.

McGuire is a professor of sports psychology at the University, and served as the track and field coach for 27 years.

Bob Bailey, the Associate Dean on the MU Law Department, is also on the task force.

Bailey said McGuire approached him three weeks ago to join it.

Since 1997, Bailey has worked as the head of Mizzou Athletics’ strategic planning committee, setting out the department’s goals and focuses.

One of his main focuses has been Title IX, the federal guidelines related to reporting student harassment. Bailey called the spot on the task force “a most worthy endeavor.”

Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Andrea Hayes serves as the independent legal adviser for the task force.

Hayes was the prosecutor in former Mizzou running back Derrick Washington’s sexual assault case in August 2010.

The court sentenced Washington to 120 days in prison, and five years of probation.

Hayes argued for the maximum seven year sentence.

Associate Athletic Director Pat Ivey and Director of Compliance Mitzi Clayton will also serve on the task force.

Athletic Director Mike Alden said Friday the group will conduct its study throughout the summer.