Cornell runner allegedly attacks two women after taking LSD

Police arrested 18-year-old Saano E. Murembya after he allegedly attacked two women at Cornell University. Murembya is reportedly a member of the Cornell track and field and cross-country team. 

The Cornell Daily Sun reports that before the alleged attacks, the runner had taken the hallucinogen LSD. He proceeded to threaten several women and attack two more outside of Robert Purcell Community Centre. He was reportedly naked from the waist down. 

Rogelio Gordon, a custodian at the school, and Ian Moritz, a freshman, forced Murembya to flee and detained him. 

Almost all Canadian and American athletic programs have implemented student-athlete codes of conduct as their athletes represent their school, values, and student body. The Cornell student-athlete handbook says, “As a student-athlete, you are more visible than the rest of the student population. Your actions and behaviour will be scrutinized by the public as well as by your peers.”

Because of athletes’ high visibility, they are held to a different standard than other students. Most athletic programs will attempt to enforce a dry season, regardless of an athlete’s age, encourage community involvement and require high grades.

Murembya appears to be primarily a 400m and 800m runner, with a high school personal best of 51.36 over 400m and an 800m high school record at Okemos High School in Michigan. He was rostered on the 2018 cross-country team as well. Since the incident, the runner has been removed from the school’s roster. The runner has pleaded not-guilty and been released from jail after posting bail.