Per the Seattle Times, he texted this to them: "I am deeply saddened that recent circumstances in my private life have created a distraction for the Department and University. While I certainly never intended to hurt anyone, I believe it is best for all involved for me to move on. . .I apologize to each of you for creating a situation that reflected negatively on WSU in any way . .To the young woman that I made feel uncomfortable, I respectfully have a different recollection of the situation you’ve described, but acknowledge that I should never have been in the situation in the first place, and I apologize. I truly never meant to cause you harm."
WSU put out this statement a short time ago: "Late this afternoon, Washington State University received a letter of resignation from Jason Gesser, following the complaint shared with the Office for Equal Opportunity on Monday. The University has accepted Mr. Gesser’s resignation effective immediately. We sincerely appreciate the courage it takes for individuals to come forward with concerns of this nature. We take the allegations extremely seriously, and the Office for Equal Opportunity intends to continue its investigation."
Gesser had been as Assistant AD and was a key fundraiser for the ath. dept.
Jason Gesser had a lifetime appointment with the athletic department. He had that personality that people would gravitate to. He had earned something special among WSU faithful. I always wondered why Leach never approached him for some position on the staff. And maybe his decision making might have been a reason.
It is a sad chapter for many reasons. One, you learn a lot about people. Some on this board even. They worry about how he will make a living. In time he will land on his feet. Really, he needs to sell weed to make a go of it? He isn't the frickin victim. he made horrible choices. Yeah, he screwed the pooch. He was a lifer at WSU. All he had to do is not embarrass the university in his private life.
I know many say it wasn't on the job. Who cares. "Money never sleeps". He is always on the job when he works in the public arena. Always. A CEO for a publicly traded company can't behave in this manner. It is no different than Gesser.
The other sad event is Jack Thompson's first reaction is to hide it, make it go away. His reputation just took a hit as well.
Something that was said on the board, and it goes to what people think is the over reaching arm of the "me too" movement. Yeah, when pendulums swing they don't go right to the middle at first. People have to be way more careful than they use to. It is the new normal.
And to the twit that said "good for Gesser" this is not a frat Gesser is still a member of. He is 39 with a family. These 23ish year old's are someone's daughters. You really think when Gessers daughter is 22 he would be overly pleased with a drunk 39 year old trying to get down her pants?
I have zero sympathy for Gesser. He has a family at home that one would think would keep him from being out til 4 in the morn. And as a moral as this may sound, go somewhere that everything will be kept private. Either pay a professional or have a fling with a woman that has more to lose than you. But to be Ken Green-like is distasteful
And for the cavalier attitude about "me too" and what is the big deal. I know several woman who were date raped, grouped, and anything between those two unwanted advances. It is life changing. They view sex way different than it was meant to be. Violence for some, aggressiveness for others. Clearly just in this case it made a huge impact on the former nanny. And if Brent Kavanaughs accuser is being truthful she is still seeing a therapist about it 30 years later. For some, that i show life changing it can be.
But there are great lessons to be learned. One, stay in your own lane. If you have a problem with drinking or you have a friend that you have covered for, all you are doing is pushing the can down the road.
And there is a lesson for my own daughters that I plan to share with them when appropriate. Be strong, and when there was a hint of inappropriateness like there was in the car, under no circumstances let them in their apartment. Nothing good will come from it, even if you "hope" this person comes to their senses. And if a case ever went to the courts similar to the Gesser case, defense attorneys would have a hay day with the decision that was made to let them in after advances were rejected. Opens up a whole different can of worms.
