Tiffany Reese

After Root made an initial report to the University of Utah's Office of Equal Opportunity, staff repeatedly reached out to her to try to ascertain the name of the perpetrator.

When the University of Utah learned the alleged perpetrator was football player Sione Lund, he was suspended and removed from the team.

Lund pled guilty and was sentenced in 2023.

This is a tragic case with far-reaching implications for everyone involved.

We hope Marissa and the people who love and support her find opportunities for healing from this traumatic experience.

The university remains committed to engaging in work to prevent violence from happening in the first place and fostering a trauma-informed community where students feel safe, supported, and heard.

As Judge David Barlow noted in his March 3rd, 2025 ruling, quote, the university had no involvement or control over the party at the football player's parents' private residence.

Additionally, reliance on the 2019 player's policy manual's general instruction that football players should treat women with respect both on and off campus

does not mean that the university has control over the context of virtually every off-campus location in which one or more of its athletes attend a private party.

Because this record does not supply the required nexus between the university and the off-campus party at a private residence, the university cannot be liable under Title IX."

Utah Valley University responded to our request for comment with the following statement, quote, Tiffany, in compliance with privacy laws and institutional policy, the university does not comment publicly on individual cases handled through the Title IX process as those proceedings are confidential to protect the privacy and rights of all parties involved.

The safety and well-being of our campus community remain our highest priorities, end quote.

Coming up on Something Was Wrong.

Thank you so much to each and every survivor and guest for sharing their experiences with us.

And thank you for listening.

Something Was Wrong is a Broken Cycle Media production created and executively produced by Tiffany Reese.

Thank you endlessly to our team.

Associate Producer, Amy B. Chesler.

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Graphic Artist, Sarah Stewart.