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Post by Laura (Lori) on May 21, 2013 17:47:16 GMT -8
From what I'm hearing, the final verdict is that it didn't happen - even though Gabel admitted to the 'indiscretions', the board didn't see fit to remove him from the Hall of Fame. Bridie had a very appropriate quote in response, and I hope she won’t mind that I repeat it in support: In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.Here is an article that came out prior to the Board Meeting: www.wuwm.com/post/speedskating-board-consider-proposal-remove-andy-gabel-hall-fame
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Post by mtnme on May 21, 2013 18:15:54 GMT -8
I just posted about this on another thread, but this is what I find appalling: "Since then, documents obtained by WUWM through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Gabel was investigated for possible inappropriate sexual contact with another minor skater at the USOEC in 1990. The name of the other skater was redacted from the documents, but WUWM was able to independently confirm that it was neither Bridie Farrell nor Nikki Meyer, and that the skater was a minor at the time. That investigation was eventually dropped for lack of evidence by Northern Michigan University, which operates the facility."That makes 3 now...that we know about...
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Post by Laura (Lori) on May 28, 2013 21:45:01 GMT -8
New article: Saratoga Springs native Farrell wants Gabel removed from Hall of Fameby Andrew Champagne / The Saratogian / Published: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 ...Per a report from WUWM in Milwaukee, U.S. Speedskating is considering a motion that would boot Gabel from the National Speedskating Hall of Fame, which is located in the city. The organization’s Hall of Fame committee met earlier this month in Salt Lake City, Utah, and discussed the motion before eventually tabling it.
According to Farrell, though, there were plenty of events behind the scenes at that meeting, which she attended in an unofficial capacity. She told WUWM that she would not shy away from speaking about the issue, and she says she butted heads with one of the sport’s most legendary figures.
“Bonnie Blair started the meeting with, ‘There are four national halls of fame that have convicted felons in them,’” Farrell said. “I said, ‘That’s the standard we’re using, Bonnie?’”
Farrell added that U.S. Speedskating tried to convince Gabel to resign from the Hall of Fame voluntarily before tabling the measure.
“This isn’t about what’s easy,” Farrell said. “What’s hard is to stand up in front of 100 people and talk about being molested. That’s hard.”Read it all: www.saratogian.com/articles/2013/05/28/sports/doc51a55843f3483382735594.txt
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Nov 19, 2013 22:28:24 GMT -8
Wow! A FIVE-PAGE article, very thorough and insightful: Skating for JusticeBy Jim Rendon / MarieClaire.com / November 18, 2013 Bridie Farrell was a promising 15-year-old speedskater when she started training with Andy Gabel, one of the sport's most decorated athletes. Now, more than 15 years later, she's opening up about disturbing allegations of misconduct— and raising unsettling questions about whether Olympic officials are doing enough to protect athletes from abusive coaches and competitors.Read it all: www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/skating-for-justice?src=soc_fcbks
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Post by Joyce on Nov 20, 2013 11:38:07 GMT -8
The article adds more detail to what was already a disturbing occurrence.
I have probably grown a bit immune to the proliferation of predators (sexual,emotional,physical) in the sports world. What I have a huge problem with is the surrounding community that allows this - "evil occurs when good people remain silent". IMO the predators are a lost cause, but it is the community, in this case the skating community, where there is a huge lapse of moral responsibility. People knew, enough people knew. No one did anything? It's not like they were living in a gulag.
USS booked a 17y/o skater and a 29y/o coach in the same hotel room? Really? And everyone was OK with this, there was no sense of discomfort with any of the "adults, parents, officials"? Congratulations USS on aiding and abetting criminal acts, in addition to stomping on any codes of ethics. I am sure you had your reasons.
What is most telling is that not a single person from that era in a position of responsibility or knowledge has stepped up with any statement of remorse or support for the "victims". It was 15 plus years ago and none of them have since developed any sense of moral courage. Beyond sad - this is depraved indifference.
And I am not speaking from any high moral ground - just an ordinary fan.
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Post by sk8er on Nov 23, 2013 11:44:29 GMT -8
When he lived in San Francisco I met Andy Gabel several times. His comments were generally to the effect that Apolo Ohno was a less than admirable person. I'm an attorney; he avoided specifics. Fans at Ohnozone were very vocal and critical of the decision to fire Stephen Gough as short track coach. They supported Apolo unequivocally throughout his career. The "Old Guard" in the U.S. short track world stuck/sticks (?) together like superglue. That said I can understand why Bridie waited so long to come forward with her allegations. A bill currently in the U.S. Senate would strip military commanders of the decision whether to proceed on allegations of sexual abuse. Many military women allege that their complaints went unanswered or even investigated. Some say they kept quiet for fear of retaliation. They believe that the military culture discourages Commanders from proceeding on these types of allegations. Was that the case at U.S. Speedskating?
Kudos Bridie for courage in coming forward. Don't back down girl!
"All that is necessary for the triumph of Evil is that good men do nothing." Hannah Arendt
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 1, 2014 7:49:52 GMT -8
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 21, 2014 15:48:18 GMT -8
From Huffington Post: An article by Bridie Farrell. Bridie has been steadfast in using her past pain to fight against abuse of minors in all sports. The U.S. Olympic Committee and U.S. Speedskating Won't Sanction My Molester, Who Is Still Free to Abuse OthersBy Bridie Farrell / Posted: 04/21/2014 With the "investigation" wrapped up, U.S. Speedskating has declined to take any action against the man who molested me. Andy is still very much a part of the sport, and enjoys an honored place as a lifetime member of U.S. Speedskating. He is still in the U.S. Speedskating Hall of Fame and can still coach or mentor. They won't even allow me to see the report Sidley Austin produced, so I really have no idea what it says.Read it all: www.huffingtonpost.com/bridie-farrell/the-us-olympic-committee-_b_5185246.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ir=SportsTags: Bridie Farrell / Andy Gabel / US Speedskating / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by sk8er on Apr 23, 2014 10:22:03 GMT -8
I read this and I am sick, just nauseated. My late friend Sooz Blakney was a big supporter of Bridie and made trips to Colorado to visit when the team was based in Colorado Springs. Andy Gabel worked down the street from my office in San Francisco. We met on several occasions and he spent much time trying to convince me that Apolo Ohno was a less than admirable character. Because I was an active member of the very vocal and visible Ohnozone blogging community I assumed he was trying to counter our very active support for Apolo in his fight against USS. Gabel was very charming. That we showed up at competitions and asked uncomfortable questions of the USS folks seemed to be at the heart of this waltz. I can understand Jack (Mortel) and Gabel being courteous and friendly and trying to get out the USS perspective on all this uproar.....but with the allegations from Bridie(which I find credible) I can only conclude that the entire Old Boy network was rotten to the core. This wasn't just misbehavior...if true we're talking crimes, felonies.
This is the same sort of thing Anita Hill faced in Clarence Thomas' confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court. All those men on Capitol Hill, even Democrats, labeled her...well, you remember...when she testified in detail to Thomas' sexual inappropriate behavior. They suppressed testimony from other women who alleged the same sorts of behaviors from Thomas toward them. Wouldn't let them testify. That's called "perjury" despite the fact that Justice Thomas still sits on the court writing decisions that undermine the basic rights of individuals in a democratic society.
I guess we will see if justice prevails in Bridie's case. But I give her great respect for coming out with her allegations. That takes courage of the highest caliber, and is a crucial step in healing her wounds. She may be the catalyst for other women who have been abused by those in whom they, and their parents, placed their trust.
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Post by HopingForChange on May 22, 2014 19:05:58 GMT -8
I recently received an email with a link to a petition at change.org to remove Andy Gabel from the Hall of Fame and revoke his lifetime membership to US Speedskating. The e-mail is below, thought you might be interested. ---- Dear colleagues, I hope you will sign the important change.org petition below. Please feel free to share this across your networks. Remove Andy Gabel (http://chn.ge/1giEWjE) Last week, 66 speedskaters filed a proposal asking that Andy Gabel receive a lifetime ban from US Speedskating, and that he be removed from the United States Speedskating Hall of Fame, due to his admitted “inappropriate relationship” of his minor teammates. This petition asks for your signature as a sign of support as well. Last year, Bridie Farrell accused Andy Gabel of molesting her when she was just 15 years old and Gabel was 33, on NPR radio. Within days, Gabel resigned from his positions within U.S. Speedskating and the International Skating Union, and publicly confessed to “inappropriate” relationships with young female athletes. Less than a week later, another skater-victim, Nikki Meyer, shared similar allegations; that Gabel forced her to have sex with him in 1991 when she was 15 years old. Additionally, since Farrell and Meyer have come forward, documents of another investigation for possible inappropriate sexual contact with another skater who was a minor surfaced. US Speedskating conducted a year-long investigation into Andy Gabel's conduct, but refuses to make the results public. At last year’s Speedskating Board of Directors meeting, an almost identical proposal was submitted, but was ignored. Most Hall of Fames are designed to immortalize an athlete’s noble accomplishments, including contributions that honor the sport. The Speedskating Hall of Fame is no different; inductees are “judged on [their] record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character,” Individuals who have engaged in sexual relations minors, however, should be disqualified from any sport’s Hall of Fame, particularly when the inductee inflicted sexual damage on fellow athletes. As a current member in good standing, an Olympian and a member of skating’s Hall of Famer, Andy Gabel has entre to young children in Speedskating. A lifetime ban from the sport and removal from the Hall of Fame is the least an Olympic sport's National Governing Body can do to preserve the safety of its athletes and to send a firm message to those that might abuse their power within sport. Please take a stand against sexual abuse in club and Olympic sports, and sign this petition to remove Andrew Gabel from the U.S. Speedskating Hall of Fame and revoke his lifetime membership in the Olympic sport. In advance, thank you for spreading to your networks. Warm regards, Sarah J. Axelson | Advocacy & Program Manager Women's Sports Foundation t 516.307.3948 f 516.542.0095 www.WomensSportsFoundation.org@womenssportsfdn | Facebook
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Post by Laura (Lori) on May 23, 2014 2:54:46 GMT -8
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Post by Laura (Lori) on May 28, 2014 14:30:41 GMT -8
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Post by sk8er on Jun 24, 2014 16:53:45 GMT -8
I've been traveling for several weeks. Just signed the petition. No one else with My name! lol... What is the status on this action Lori?
Susan
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jun 24, 2014 21:30:47 GMT -8
I've been traveling for several weeks. Just signed the petition. No one else with My name! lol... What is the status on this action Lori? Susan I don't know the status, Susan - if anyone does know, please post!
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Post by sk8er on Aug 5, 2014 10:34:48 GMT -8
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