University of Montana Assistant Athletic Director Rejected Relationship Class

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — As the University of Montana investigated reports of sexual assaults involving students, a suggestion that student-athletes be required to take a course on relationships was rejected by the assistant athletic director.

Emails released to the Missoulian on Wednesday show football coach Robin Pflugrad agreed with a suggestion from the university's Counselor Education Department that athletes take its "Intimate and Family Relationships" course. Jean Gee, however, said she thought it was a bad idea.

Gee, who is now the interim athletic director, argued that athletes have little time in their schedules for another elective and that the estimated $6,000 cost of offering another section of the class could be better spent elsewhere.

President Royce Engstrom has said the investigation into sexual assaults "indicated a disproportionate association with patterns of behavior of a number of student athletes."