Aidan Ralph, a redshirt sophomore at Iowa State, was arrested on Wednesday. Ralph was charged with the violent rape of a woman that allegedly occurred at Ralph's home in December 2022. According to an affidavit, Ralph allegedly accused the woman of cheating on him and assaulted her. Ralph reportedly shoved her into the staircase, fracturing her spine. Instead of calling an ambulance, Ralph reportedly laid on top of the woman and raped her. Ralph was also charged with misdemeanor domestic violence charges.
It's the latest high-profile rape case stemming from the college sphere in recent years. San Diego State punter Matt Araiza was accused of raping a minor at a party, an accusation that led him to be cut soon after being drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. He and a number of other players were accused of gang-raping the minor at a frat party. However, no charges were filed in Araiza's case. The records in the investigation of accusations surrounding Araiza were recently unsealed.
Ralph Granted Bond But Remains Jailed
According to reporting from the Ames Tribune, a judge has set an $11,000 bond for Ralph. However, at the time of writing on May 4, Ralph remains in jail. Furthermore, the judge granted a protective order for Ralph's alleged victim, meaning that Ralph cannot contact her. Ralph will face a hearing on the charges on May 15. Iowa State has suspended Ralph indefinitely. Ralph had never taken the field for the Cyclones.
The arrest comes during a period of uncertainty within the NCAA. A recent survey of 70 male college athletes found some disturbing results. "The majority of the athletes It's On Us spoke with had minimal awareness of their institution's policies, procedures, and resources for survivors, and many did not know who their Title IX Coordinator was," the study states. "This lack of awareness was a barrier for athletes who desired more direction and resources when experiencing a disclosure." Title IX is a collegiate mandate that covers everything from fair representation in sports to the handling of sexual assault. While campuses have spent millions on sexual assault awareness, it's clear that the problem is still prevalent as ever.
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