Boston University Failed Alex Cooper, How They Should Have Handled Her Allegations - Episode 014
What happens when your dream becomes your trauma? Imagine the thing you loved most—the activity that gave you confidence, identity, and purpose—suddenly turning into the very thing that breaks you. That’s the emotional heartbeat behind Alex Cooper’s shocking revelations in her Hulu documentary Call Her Alex.
Before she was a media mogul and host of Call Her Daddy, Alex was a star Division I athlete at Boston University. But instead of celebrating a dream college experience, she endured alleged harassment from her coach and a heartbreaking betrayal from the institution that was supposed to protect her.
This story isn’t just about one woman—it’s about the cost of silence, power imbalances, and what happens when leaders prioritize reputation over responsibility. Here's what we can all learn.
How Institutions Fail—and Why It Matters
Alex alleges that after enduring three years of harassment from her coach, she finally reported the misconduct. She and her parents brought detailed evidence to BU’s Athletic Director and a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. What happened next? Silence. Dismissal. No formal investigation.
Boston University’s failure to act exemplifies what’s known as institutional betrayal—when organizations that claim to uphold safety and equity do nothing when someone is in crisis. This isn’t just about one bad actor; it’s about a system that protects the powerful over the vulnerable.
Title IX Isn’t Optional
Under U.S. Department of Education guidelines, universities are legally required to investigate credible claims of harassment. That means launching a formal Title IX process—something BU allegedly ignored. If true, this wasn't just unethical—it could be illegal.
This failure sends a chilling message to students everywhere: We see you, but we won’t help you. When an institution claims “zero tolerance” for harassment but doesn’t act, that policy becomes meaningless.
What BU Could Have Done Differently
So what should Boston University have done? A lot, starting with empathy:
Acknowledge the complaint. Listen. Take it seriously.
Initiate a Title IX investigation. Interview both parties and witnesses. Document everything.
Offer protection. Suspend the coach during the investigation, and ensure the student’s scholarship remains safe.
Communicate with care. Even if they couldn’t confirm wrongdoing, BU could have expressed compassion: “We’re sorry Alex didn’t feel supported. We’re reviewing our practices to ensure no student feels this way again.”
Instead, they offered a generic PR statement—and a scholarship, which Cooper now sees as hush money.
Why This Matters to You
Whether you’re a student, employee, manager, or parent, this story matters because it reflects a larger truth: Power can protect or it can silence.
This episode reminds us that:
Speaking up is hard—but crucial.
Documentation (like Alex’s mom’s notebook) is powerful.
Institutions must earn trust by how they act, not what they say.
Real accountability doesn’t start with a press release. It starts with action.
Alex Cooper’s story isn’t over—but it’s already sparked a national conversation. If her documentary teaches us anything, it’s this: believing victims, investigating claims, and creating cultures of safety must become the norm—not the exception.
It’s time we expect better. Not just from Boston University. From all of us.