Who is Brenda Tracy?
Brenda Tracy is a resilient woman who wears many hats: she is a mother, a registered nurse, an advocate, and a survivor. In 1998, she endured a horrific attack by four college football players, but she did not let this defeat her.
She quickly sought medical attention, reported the incident to the police, and held onto the hope that justice would be served. However, as is often the case with these types of crimes, justice was not served.
Law enforcement failed to pursue legal action against her perpetrators due to the District Attorney’s decision, despite obtaining substantial evidence, such as confessions from her assailants.
Additionally, she was not informed of her rights as a victim and was not notified when her evidence was destroyed three years before the statute of limitations.
Despite having to face the life-changing trauma alone, Brenda continued with her life while her rapists faced minimal repercussions. It was only in 2014 that she found the strength to come forward and now she strives to improve the world for other survivors.
After stepping up, Brenda Tracy has been a strong advocate for passing laws to aid victims. She founded the organization Set The Expectation to involve and embolden men to take action in their communities. She delivers speeches to various audiences nationwide, motivating a shift in mindset to eradicate sexual assault.
Personal Life
At the age of 18, Brenda tied the knot but had to end her marriage due to her spouse’s battle with substance abuse. She bravely chose to part ways and became the sole guardian of their two kids, Darius Adams and Devante Adams.
Sadly, Darius and Devante each encountered their own obstacles during their upbringing. Darius was only five years old when his mother survived sexual assault, while Devante was just four. The traumatic experiences deeply affected both individuals, resulting in struggles with mental well-being and challenges during their youth.
Darius, specifically, struggled with thoughts of self-harm and eventually became dependent on substances such as drugs and alcohol. Despite these challenges, Brenda remained a source of unwavering support for her sons, motivating them to persist and conquer their difficulties.
Brenda Tracy & Mel Tucker
Mel Tucker, the former coach of Michigan State University, and Brenda Tracy, an activist, joined forces to combat sexual violence in sports. However, in a surprising twist, Tracy has made allegations of sexual misconduct against Tucker, resulting in a Title IX probe.
Brenda Tracy reported that Tucker made numerous sexually explicit comments toward her and engaged in non-consensual masturbation during a phone conversation in 2022.
“The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it’s hard for me to even wrap my mind around it, It’s like he sought me out just to betray me.”
After receiving the complaint, Michigan State University took action by hiring an outside Title IX lawyer to thoroughly investigate the matter. Tucker admitted to the phone call but maintained that their conversation was consensual.
