Oklahoma, University Must Defend Ex-Cheerleader’s Hazing Suit

A former University of Central Oklahoma cheerleader can proceed with her lawsuit over the school’s alleged deliberate indifference to sexual harassment at cheer team hazing events.

Sierra Rudman’s Title IX claim survived because UCO director Kay Robinson allegedly attended events where blindfolded, sexually-charged hazing took place, the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma said Wednesday. Because university policy purportedly gave Kay the authority to stop the off-campus events, Oklahoma could be liable for the hazing and sexual exploitation, the court said.

Rudman joined UCO’s cheer team in 2020 and attended the team’s big/little reveal event that August, ...