Secret recordings reveal Oberlin bosses scolding lacrosse coach for talking ... trends now
The former head coach of the Oberlin College women's lacrosse team produced recordings where her bosses demanded she stop discussing menstruation out of fear of offending trans women.
Kim Russell had been at the center of an ongoing conflict with officials at Oberlin after she posted her personal viewpoint on transgender swimmer Lia Thomas winning an NCAA championship in 2022 in March last year.
She has since become an ambassador for the Independent Women's Forum but she didn't leave the liberal enclave before recording some of the disciplinary process.
Russell released one of the recordings, which resurfaced on social media earlier this week, where she spoke to Natalie Winkelfoos, the school's associate vice president for athletics, about a coach she'd hired to discuss menstruation.
Winkelfoos is heard telling Russell that the 'period talk' as she put it was 'a boundary that we should have discussed as a team, if everyone was comfortable with that.'
The former head coach of the Oberlin College women's lacrosse team produced recordings where her bosses demanded she stop discussing menstruation out of fear of offending trans women
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She's also accused of not thinking about 'reasons why someone might not get their period or they may not have a good relationship with it' by an unnamed Oberlin lacrosse player.
Russell simply felt that this lacrosse coach could be useful to the team.
'I brought in someone who specializes in the female [menstrual] cycle,' Russell said.
'And she's a lacrosse coach, so she would help us with plays or drills and I got great feedback as she was here from players on the team.'
Russell was eventually removed from her position with the team, who are now being coached by an interim replacement.
She had reposted a headline that facetiously congratulated NCAA silver medalist Emma Weyant for being the true winner of the championship, after she placed behind Thomas at the 2022 competition.
'What do you believe? I can’t be quiet on this … I’ve spent my life playing sports, starting & coaching sports programs for girls & women ...' she wrote.
Her post sparked an internal controversy at Oberlin, prompting administrators to step in and lambast the coach.
Russell has documented the reaction of the hyper-progressive college to her position that only biological women should compete in women's sports
Russell said she felt railroaded and 'burned at the stake' by college administrators who admonished her for voicing her position about women's sports
In one conversation with administrators, which Russell recorded, Winkelfoos said: 'Unfortunately, you fall into the category of people that are kind of filled with hate in the world.'
Emma Weyant came second to Thomas, who was born male but started to transition as a teen.
Creg Jantz, senior associate director of athletics, told Russell: 'It’s acceptable to have your own opinions, but when they go against Oberlin College’s beliefs, it’s a problem for your employment.'
Russell says she has not spoken to either of them since the saga blew up.
'I did speak to the athletic director
