- Kaitlyn Wassel is suing Penn State for sexual and gender harassment
- She claims the school failed to protect her from the abuse of Blue Band majorette coach Heather Bean
- Allegedly, Bean intentionally forced Wassel to wear a uniform that was too small and insulted her cruelly, leading to an eating disorder and a suicide attempt
A former Penn State University majorette is suing the school, claiming she was “fat-shamed” by a coach who refused to get her a fitting uniform and uttered insults that led to an eating disorder and a suicide attempt would have led.
Kaitlyn Wassel is suing Penn State for sexual and gender-based harassment, claiming the university failed to protect her from mistreatment by blue band majorette coach Heather Bean.
Wassel, who attended the school and performed with the Blue Band from 2018 to 2022, described in the lawsuit several instances of mistreatment by Bean during her tenure.
Bean allegedly forced Wassel to wear a uniform that was too small for four years and did not allow her to swap uniforms with a teammate or have it altered.
The trainer also ordered Wassel to lose weight to match her uniform, claiming it caused her to suffer from an eating disorder, the lawsuit says.
Kaitlyn Wassel (pictured) is suing Penn State for sexual and gender-based harassment, claiming it failed to protect her from mistreatment by blue band majorette coach Heather Bean
Bean (pictured) is accused of cruelly insulting Wassel, calling her “such a whore” and even accusing her of a lice outbreak on the team
The Penn State Blue Band performs during the Tournament of Roses Parade on Orange Grove Boulevard in January 2023
Wassel also claims Bean refused to help her report a sexual assault case in 2018.
Bean is accused of cruelly insulting Wassel, calling her “such a whore” and even blaming her for an outbreak of lice on the team.
The former majorette also claims that Bean threatened to fire her from the team if she reported her to the university.
Wassel claims that in addition to having an eating disorder, she attempted suicide in May 2021, which resulted in her being hospitalized. Wassel states that her parents blamed Bean's abuse for her attempting to take her own life.
The former twirler claims that she still suffers from panic attacks to this day.
Wassel filed a complaint against Bean after she graduated, joining, she claims, several others who did the same.
Her lawsuit against Bean includes four other Blue Band twirlers alleging similar misconduct.
Wassel filed a complaint against Bean after she graduated, joining, she claims, several others who did the same
An investigation was launched against Bean shortly after the allegations emerged. Although university officials determined that Bean had violated university policies, they did not find enough evidence to prove sexual harassment or discrimination
An investigation was launched against Bean shortly after the allegations emerged. Although university officials determined that Bean had violated university policies, they did not find enough evidence to prove sexual harassment or discrimination.
The university was also unable to discipline Bean because she resigned from the position she held between 1994 and 2022.
Wassel is seeking “undetermined damages for violations of Title IX and the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause” to help fund mental health treatment and medication.
She also claims that Blue Band director Gregory Drane and other university administrators knew about Bean's behavior but ignored it when confronted.
A LinkedIn page for Bean does not list her at another job since her retirement from Penn State.
A spokesman for the school said it does not comment on pending litigation.