Something Was Wrong – S25 Ep16: “Your Voice Matters”

Podcast by Broken Cycle Media, released March 26, 2026

Overview

This powerful episode of Something Was Wrong follows survivor Marissa Root as she details her arduous legal and personal battle for justice after being sexually assaulted by a University of Utah football player. The episode explores institutional accountability, the limits of Title IX, systemic failures in university athletics, and the importance of survivor advocacy. Marissa’s journey through the criminal and civil court systems, institutional roadblocks, and her personal recovery offers frank insights into the realities of sexual assault cases on college campuses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Civil and Criminal Legal Process

• Marissa opens up about the duration and emotional toll of her civil case against the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, and the Board of Higher Education.
  • UVU and the Board were dismissed early, leaving only the University of Utah. (05:00)
• Depositions revealed that the university often prioritized protecting itself and its athletes over student safety.
• Coaches and university staff were evasive in depositions, focusing on whether players had been charged instead of directly addressing allegations or the safety of the community.
• "They allowed misconduct because he had broken team rules again and again, and they just let it slide continuously." – Marissa Root (08:52)
• The civil case was ultimately dismissed due to a Supreme Court ruling barring emotional damages in Title IX cases and the judge ruling the university had no control over off-campus incidents. (24:00–26:00)

2. University & Athletics Response

• Deposition transcripts showed a pattern of minimizing and avoiding responsibility.
  • Coaches responded to allegations with “ignorance is bliss,” not asking pointed questions. (07:24–08:20)
  • The coach admitted, “No one asked him if he did this, nor did he volunteer that to them.” (08:00)
  • Despite multiple allegations, the football player received continued support, including scholarships, and disciplinary actions were not linked to sexual assault allegations. (10:19–10:41)
• The Title IX office handled athlete cases as “students” without any separate designation or additional scrutiny despite multiple complaints within a short time frame. (20:57)
• "Even though there were three reports of sexual misconduct against players on the football team within six months, they would not classify that as an obvious risk." – Marissa Root (21:18)

3. Title IX Limitations & Systemic Failures

• The University of Utah’s Title IX office failed to ask about the full scope of Marissa’s involvement on campus or context of the assault.
• The system focused on education and prevention rather than real, direct accountability or targeted intervention. (21:45–21:49)
• A critical Supreme Court ruling during Marissa’s case made it impossible to claim emotional damages under Title IX, significantly reducing survivors’ avenues for redress. (23:30)
• “Most of the damage done was emotional... when the Supreme Court barred that, that was beyond detrimental to all Title IX cases.” – Marissa Root (22:44–23:30)

4. Impact Statement at Probation Hearing

• After the assailant sought early termination of probation two years into a four-year term, Marissa was notified at the last minute.
• She delivered an emotional statement in court, detailing the lifelong impact of the assault and urging the judge to uphold the original sentence.
  • “What happened to me was not just a single night. It has changed every part of who I am.” (35:51)
  • “Granting early release would not only minimize the seriousness of harm he caused, but it would also send the message that my pain and safety do not matter as much as his convenience.” (37:20)
• The judge denied the motion for early termination, validating Marissa’s experience. (39:41–40:05)

5. Survivor Support, Advice, and Systemic Betrayal

• Marissa describes deep institutional betrayal, feeling more traumatized by the justice system and university inaction than by the assault itself. (54:06)
• She stresses the importance of self-advocacy, documenting interactions, and seeking support from victim advocates. (50:30, 53:03)
• Advice for others: “You are there to advocate for yourself. ...I highly, highly recommend you record absolutely everything. That’s something that I really wish that I would have done.” – Marissa Root (50:30)
• She recognizes the critical support of family, particularly her mother, and other survivors who reached out in solidarity. (48:20, 48:30)
• “The most important thing is using your voice, because that builds confidence in yourself, and that is usually what is destroyed when someone sexually assaults you. My voice was taken... but I fought so hard to get it back.” (46:39)
• Her story has inspired and connected her with other survivors, reinforcing the importance of speaking out despite system failures. (48:30)

6. Reflections from Friends and Family

• Friends Sarah and Jane reflect on how Marissa’s experience changed their understanding of sexual assault and the prevalence of institutional protection of athletes. (41:11, 44:26)
• Sarah: “I think a lot of times athletes are excused for their behaviors and they're protected in a lot of ways. ...That was super eye opening once I went to college and kind of saw that happening firsthand.” (41:14)
• Jane: “It seemed like in so many ways he was protected and she was not advocated for... so many things seemed to fall through the cracks.” (44:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On University Accountability:
  “They allowed misconduct because he had broken team rules again and again and they just let it slide continuously.” — Marissa Root (08:52)
• On the Limits of Title IX:
  “Most of the damage done was emotional... when the Supreme Court barred that, that was beyond detrimental to all Title IX cases.” — Marissa Root (22:44)
• On Self-Advocacy:
  "You are there to advocate for yourself. ...I highly, highly recommend you record absolutely everything. That’s something that I really wish that I would have done." — Marissa Root (50:30)
• On Speaking Out:
  "I want people to know that their voice truly matters. Even if the outcome doesn't reflect the truth, the truth still matters." — Marissa Root (46:14–46:17)
• On Institutional Betrayal:
  "I feel, in a lot of ways, more traumatized by those systems than the assault itself." — Marissa Root (54:06)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Civil case process and challenges: 02:50–12:02
• Deposition insights and university/coach responses: 06:14–12:02
• Title IX policies and systemic issues: 17:45–26:43
• Case dismissal and reflection: 24:00–26:43
• Probation hearing and Marissa’s impact statement: 34:12–40:05
• Advice for survivors and advocacy: 50:30–54:06
• Family/friend reflections on the process: 41:11–45:23
• Marissa’s closing thoughts on healing and support: 45:25–50:30
• University responses to the case: 58:39–60:33

Closing Reflections

Marissa’s episode is both sobering and inspiring: a testament to the resilience of survivors amid legal and institutional shortcomings. She lays bare the failures in the university and justice systems, advocating for rigorous oversight, greater support for victims, and the need for survivors to use their voices—even when justice seems out of reach. Her advice to others underscores self-advocacy, documenting every step, and not giving up hope. The episode is a crucial listen for anyone seeking to understand the lived reality of reporting sexual assault and the complex terrain of seeking justice on American campuses.

Additional Resources

For content warnings, support resources, and more information on reporting, see the “Episode Notes” for this episode of Something Was Wrong.