Podcast Summary: Something Was Wrong

Host: Tiffany Reese (Broken Cycle Media)
Episode: S25 Ep13: Chapter 3: Help Me
Date: March 5, 2026

Overview

In this deeply affecting episode, "Chapter 3: Help Me," the podcast investigates what happens when a university’s brand is threatened after a high-profile student athlete is accused of rape. Through the firsthand account of Marissa, a Utah Valley University student, listeners learn about her sexual assault at the hands of a well-known University of Utah football player, the subsequent institutional betrayal she experienced, and the long, painful fight for justice and recognition against a backdrop of cultural, religious, and athletic privilege. The episode candidly explores issues of gender roles, survivor support, community responses, the Title IX process, and the additional barriers victims face when their assailant is an athlete.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Dark Side of College Athletics & Title IX

• [01:00 - 05:11] Tiffany Reese presents a data-driven introduction, noting that while Title IX has expanded athletic opportunities for women, statistics show male athletes are disproportionately involved in campus sexual assault cases.
  • Quotes findings from various studies showing athletes, despite making up a small fraction of the student population, perpetrate a much higher share of sexual assaults on campuses.
  • Discusses studies indicating that public perceptions and "celebrity status" often shield perpetrators and vilify victims.

Marissa’s Story: Early Life & Campus Culture

• [05:40 - 14:00] Marissa introduces herself, her childhood in Utah, and the LDS (Mormon) religious environment that stressed male authority and left her unprepared for crisis.
  • Describes moving from a sheltered upbringing to college, herself as a social, high-achieving student unfamiliar with navigating trauma.
  • Highlights the lack of sexual assault education or clear protocols for support on campus:

    "I had an expectation for what I thought college would be...I was never spoken to about what to do in a situation like this, where to go." (Marissa, 08:48)

Relationship with the Assailant ("SL")

• [11:37 - 15:21]
  • Marissa narrates how she met "SL" in high school, maintained a distant, non-romantic relationship, and recounts his concerning behavior at a wedding (drunkenness, being picked up by police and told he had a “bright future”).
  • Illuminates the informal protection and warnings given to promising athletes even outside the university context.

The Assault

• [19:52 - 39:00]
  • Marissa describes the night of the assault—a group hangout that turned as her friends left her alone with SL. She details her escalating discomfort, explicit boundary-setting, and ultimately being overpowered:

    "I was just really wanting to make sure that my friend was safe and that she was taken care of." (Marissa, 24:59) "I continuously was trying to tell him, slow down, stop... But he wasn't listening." (Marissa, 34:40) "At that point I left my body. I had probably said no and stop 40 times." (Marissa, 36:40)

  • She runs from the house, contacts friends, and learns from them that SL verbally confirmed his awareness that she said no.

Friends’ Perspectives

• [25:59 - 44:26]
  • Sarah and Jane, Marissa’s close friends, recount their observations of the night and its aftermath—Sarah recalling Marissa’s distress and her own regret at not recognizing the severity sooner:

    "She did pull me aside before and she said, make sure I do not go in a room with him...I think we already kind of knew that he could be a little pushy in ways when he wasn't sober." (Sarah, 30:06) "In the time I've known Marissa, I had never seen her like that before...so to see her that shaken up...felt very big." (Sarah, 41:04)

Navigating the Aftermath: Hospital, Police & Title IX

• [44:26 - 57:07]

  • Marissa’s friends guide her to the ER for a rape kit (CODAR), but she’s wrongly told by hospital staff she must pay thousands of dollars unless she presses charges.
  • Importance of victim advocates and knowledgeable support is underscored. Eventually, she learns that rape kits are state-funded.
  • Describes the excruciatingly invasive physical exam and the trauma of repeated retellings for authorities.

  "It's so important that you have a rape kit. And I will forever be indebted to her for that." (Marissa, 47:48) "Victims who go forward in sexual assault cases, they don't win...They are completely torn apart publicly." (Marissa, 50:54)

  • When meeting with her own college’s Title IX office, Marissa encounters apathy and insensitivity:

    "He proceeded to tell me that he didn't really think I had a case with police... He kept telling me, you look like you're doing well. And I remember being so hurt by that because I was dying inside." (Marissa, 54:16) "He told me that probably my best route would be to turn it into the University of Utah so that they can scare him so he won't actually violently rape someone next time." (Marissa, 55:16)

  • No follow-up, counseling, or support from the school; she highlights how easy it is to give up in the face of bureaucratic barriers.

Family Support

• [57:07 - 61:07]
  • Marissa’s parents step in to advocate, provide emotional steadiness, and help push the process forward.

    "When I did finally end up telling my mom, she just cried with me. And it was really hard for her at first...she started really advocating for me." (Marissa, 58:35) "Because I had support from my family and friends I was able to keep...But people who don't have that...I could easily see how someone would be discouraged from moving forward." (Marissa, 59:40)

Institutional Responses & Accountability

• [61:07 - 63:27]

  • The University of Utah notes in its official statement that, upon learning the athlete’s identity, he was suspended and eventually pled guilty, but the university disclaims liability as the attack was at a private residence.

  • Utah Valley University declines to comment on individual Title IX cases but affirms commitment to safety.

    "The university had no involvement or control over the party at the football player's parents private residence...The University cannot be liable under Title IX." (University of Utah statement, 61:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Institutional Betrayal

• “When institutions protect their image, who protects the student? And if Title IX promises equity, why does justice feel so uneven?”
  — Tiffany Reese, [04:58]

Survivor Realities

• “Victims who go forward in sexual assault cases, they don't win. …they are completely torn apart publicly.”
  — Marissa, [50:54]

• "He proceeded to tell me that he didn't really think I had a case with police... He kept telling me, you look like you're doing well. And I remember being so hurt by that because I was dying inside."
  — Marissa, [54:16]

Peer Support

• "She did pull me aside before and she said, make sure I do not go in a room with him. I don't want to be alone with him."
  — Sarah, [30:06]

• "She was very emotional. She kind of just explained to me in more depth what exactly happened in that room with SL and then I told her what Jay had told me about his conversation with SL and how SL had pretty much admitted to Jay that he knew she wanted to stop, and he didn't stop."
  — Sarah, [43:16]

The Aftermath

• "I was there for over six hours. After they finished the exam, the victim advocate handed me a folder of different things that could help me, different resources. And the first thing that she told me to do was to go talk to my college. There's what's called the Title IX office."
  — Marissa, [52:48]

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [01:00] – Introduction: Title IX, college athlete sexual assault stats
• [05:40–14:00] – Marissa’s background, Utah/LDS context, college life
• [19:52–39:00] – Detailed account of the assault and immediate aftermath
• [44:26–50:43] – Hospital, rape kit process, police involvement, systemic failures
• [50:54–57:07] – Title IX process, institutional apathy, family support
• [61:07] – Official statements from both universities
• [63:27] – Teaser for the next episode: police and university mishandling, failures in case management

Tone & Language

The episode maintains a candid, somber, and ultimately empowering tone, with Marissa’s narration alternating between raw vulnerability and resolute advocacy. Tiffany Reese’s hosting is direct and empathetic, offering context and support without overshadowing the survivors’ voices. All language remains consistent with the speakers’ perspective and the gravity of the subject matter.

Conclusion

This episode of "Something Was Wrong" provides a harrowing but vital exploration of the compounded trauma faced by student survivors when their assailant is an elite athlete embedded in an insular and image-conscious culture. It highlights critical gaps in college support systems, the resilience of survivors, and the importance of advocacy—both personal and institutional. The narrative, rooted in Marissa’s experience, challenges listeners to reexamine how justice and support for victims are delivered in collegiate settings where PR can override student safety.