Utah Athletics To Build, Name Indoor Track Facility After Lauren McCluskey
Oct 22, 2020, 10:35 AM | Updated: 10:50 am
Utah's Lauren McCluskey, runs Aug. 30, 2017, in Salt Lake City, Utah. McCluskey, 21, was the University of Utah student who was killed Monday night, Oct. 22, 2018. (Courtesy of Steve C. Wilson)
(Courtesy of Steve C. Wilson)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah athletic department is set to build and name an indoor track facility after Lauren McCluskey.
McCluskey, who was a member of the Utes’ track and field program, was murdered in 2018 by an ex-boyfriend whom she warned campus police about and expressed concerns for her safety.
On October 22, the two year anniversary of her death, Utah made the facility announcement during a settlement agreement press conference with McCluskey’s parents.
"This settlement is important for many reasons. It addresses how Lauren died but also honors how she lived," Jill McCluskey says. Describes how the settlement money will be used — to continue to work to make campuses safer across the country.
— KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) October 22, 2020
The settlement totaled $13.5 million.
As part of the settlement, the University of Utah announced it would construct an indoor track facility in Lauren’s honor.
“As part of the settlement, the University of Utah pledged to raise funds to construct an indoor track facility by Dec. 31, 2030, that will bear the name Lauren McCluskey or jointly her name and that of a major donor to the facility,” the university said in a statement. “If the university is unable to raise funds to cover construction costs by that date, it will make an additional contribution of $3 million to the Lauren McCluskey Foundation no later than June 30, 2031.”
“As part of the settlement, the University of Utah has pledged to build an indoor track facility… named after Lauren,” Jill McCluskey said. “We are also honored that her name will be associated with the Center for Violence Prevention.”
Our thoughts are with the McCluskey family today as we remember and honor Lauren. pic.twitter.com/vKGsjF0jow
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 22, 2020
“Track and field was a very important part of Lauren’s life,” Lauren’s mother continued. “She was a very hard worker and she was honored to be a member of the Track and Field Team at the University of Utah.”
McCluskey’s death came after she reported to U of U police that her ex-boyfriend had been stalking her and attempting to blackmail her using compromising photos.
One of the officers, Miguel Deras, who no longer works at the university, was later accused of sharing those photos with co-workers and making inappropriate comments.
District Attorney Sim Gill declined to file charges against Deras.
He said he was unable to find a statute in Utah’s laws to prosecute the former officer.
Protesters took to the streets Wednesday in Salt Lake City to decry Gill’s decision not to press charges.
Jill and Matt McCluskey filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the State of Utah claiming the university failed to provide their daughter with protections that would have been given to a male student.
"We hope not only that the University of Utah is a safer place, but that campuses will be safer nationwide because of what we are doing," Jill McCluskey concludes.
— KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) October 22, 2020
