By Amanda Perez
12/06/07 Fresno, California -- The former Woman's Basketball Coach was awarded $19.1 million dollars in her civil suit against Fresno State
Former Women's Basketball Coach, Stacy Johnson-Klein, won the gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation claims she brought against the University.
Fresno State President John Welty released a statement saying, "I disagree with the decision. We will appeal. But we are determined not to be distracted by it, and will continue with the essential work of the university. I am personally committed, and this university is committed, to the well-being of all of our students."
Welty did not answer and questions from reporters.
Many Fresno State Students have strong reactions to Thursday's verdict and the dollar amount. Most of the students Action News spoke with said they really didn't follow the trial very closely.
Many were still shocked to hear that Johnson-Klein was awarded $19.1 million dollars. Some are worried about what the verdict will mean for their school's reputation and the future of sports programs.
Normal Davis, a junior at Fresno State and a former athlete said, "19 million dollars, wow, I wish I could come up with something like that, she got the easy way out...whether or not she's telling the truth, the judge obviously fell for the story."
Heather You, a Senior at Fresno State said, "It doesn't interest me in the least because I came here to learn, I didn't come here to follow a sports figure."
"It's gonna reflect badly on our program, and I am conernced because I'm a sports fan, so they need to fix it...if this happens we're not gonna get no recruits, still the way it is," said Jermaine Armstrong, a Senior at Fresno State.
Some students Action News spoke with said they discussed the trial briefly in their classes.
Action News also spoke to a former Women's Basketball player who did not play for Johnson-Klein but said the team is now just focused on their upcoming game, not Thursday's verdict.
The jurors, consisting of eleven women and one man, awarded Fresno State Women's Basketball Coach Stacy Johnson-Klein $19.1 million dollars.
Original article source: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=5818758
