Predator pipeline series results in policy review and college reforms

A four-part series by the USA Today Network, which exposed a “predator pipeline” (https://stories.usatodaynetwork.com/predatorpipeline/) in which athletes suspended or expelled for sexual assault at one college were accepted at other institutions, led to policy change. Two colleges immediately pledged to change how they vet athletes who seek transfers and adopted policies similar those featured in the solutions story in the series (https://stories.usatodaynetwork.com/predatorpipeline/call-to-action/), and members of Congress issued a bipartisan call for an independent study of NCAA policies. Under pressure, the NCAA announced it would review its policies. Reporter Kenny Jacoby, who studied solutions journalism at the University of Oregon, said the series wouldn’t have had the impact he wanted unless he showed readers a possible path forward. “And here we’re seeing some direct evidence that the solutions component has helped bring that about,” he said.