WASHINGTON - February 24 - The national advocacy group Dads and Daughters launched a grassroots campaign today urging University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman and the Board of Regents to fire head football coach Gary Barnett following allegations that the football program uses sex parties and strippers as a recruiting strategy. So far, seven women, including Katie Hnida the only female to ever play for the team, have reported being raped by football players during Barnett's era as coach.

Barnett was placed on paid administrative leave after telling reporters, "You know what guys do-they respect your ability. Katie was a girl, and not only was she a girl, she was terrible."

"Barnett's response to Katie Hnida's claims is nothing less than justification of abuse, maltreatment and violence against women," Dads and Daughters Program Manager John Ball says.

Dads and Daughters is urging everyone to visit http://dads.e-actionmax.com/showalert.asp?aaid=526 and send a letter to the President Hoffman and the Board of Regents, saying you want them to preserve the integrity of their great institution by immediately terminating coach Barnett.

Dads and Daughters (www.dadsanddaughters.org) is the national advocacy nonprofit for fathers and daughters. Dads and Daughters inspires fathers to actively and deeply engage in their daughters' lives, and galvanizes fathers and other to take social action that transforms the pervasive cultural messages that devalue girls and women.

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