They should take the consequences for any illegal acts they did. In light of what has been revealed, it appears the only illegal acts were that of the stripper and DA Nifong.
Lacrosse players invited back
By John Stevenson, The Herald-Sun
January 4, 2007 12:09 am
DURHAM -- Duke opened the door Wednesday to the return "in good standing" of student-athletes Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, who were removed from school after being charged in the controversial lacrosse sexual-assault case last spring.
It wasn't clear Wednesday when or if they would return to Duke, their attorneys said.
The invitation came Tuesday in letters to Finnerty and Seligmann from Larry Moneta, Duke's vice president for student affairs.
The spring semester begins next week.
Lawyers Wade Smith and Bill Cotter, representing Finnerty, described the development as "a defining moment in Duke's institutional history. It speaks to the integrity of [the school's] mission and its belief in the innocence of Collin Finnerty."
Cotter said that while Finnerty has been invited to return, he hasn't decided anything.
According to Cotter, Finnerty has been taking classes at Long Island's Hofstra University near his Garden City, N.Y., home. He works with an agency called "Tuesday's Children," which helps children who lost family members on Sept. 11.
Smith said Finnerty appreciates Duke's invitation and considers it a vindication. It sends a message that, "He is a person who ought to be welcomed on a university campus and welcomed by his classmates and teammates," Smith said.
Seligmann attorney James P. Cooney III said that his client, who lives in New Jersey, also is unsure when or if he will return to Duke.
"He's going to have to consider his options," said Cooney, adding that Seligmann now attends a hometown community college while doing volunteer work.
The invitations were "the right and fair thing to do," Duke President Richard Brodhead said Wednesday. "Although the students still face serious charges and larger issues require Duke's collective attention, the circumstances in this case have changed substantially, and it is appropriate that the students have an opportunity to continue their education."
The invitations came roughly two weeks after Brodhead publicly questioned District Attorney Mike Nifong's handling of the sex-assault case.
The Seligmann family thanked Brodhead in a prepared statement Wednesday.
"We also are glad that Duke University has now made it clear that Reade is welcome to return to the university and look forward to the day that he can return to living a normal life and continuing his education as a full-time student," the statement said.
They added, "By now it should be plain to any person who has any objectivity that the charges against Reade are transparently false. Reade is absolutely innocent and we will continue to fight this injustice. We are not going to rest until Reade's good name has been cleared and those who have been responsible for this injustice have been held fully accountable."
Finnerty and Seligmann were removed from school after being charged with kidnapping, raping and sodomizing an exotic dancer during an off-campus lacrosse party at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd.
The third charged player, David Evans, graduated in May.
Last week, prosecutor Nifong dismissed rape charges against the three, but let stand charges of kidnapping and first-degree sexual offense. The defendants are free on bond.
Nifong could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The case led to the resignation of longtime coach Mike Pressler and the cancellation of remaining games in the 2006 lacrosse season.
In his letter to Seligmann on Tuesday, Duke's Moneta wrote: "As circumstances have evolved in this extraordinary case, we have attempted to balance recognition of the gravity of legal charges with the presumption of your innocence. Now with the approach of a new term, we believe that circumstances warrant that we strike this balance differently.
"Reade, it is my sincere hope that you will choose to return for the spring semester," Moneta added. "Please let me know how I may support you during this time."
Lawyers Smith and Cotter said that Finnerty, likewise, was informed in writing this week that his status had been switched from administrative leave to "student in good standing."
Cotter predicted Finnerty would have no trouble readjusting to Duke and would be well received by others, despite enormous furor surrounding the sex-assault case.
Readjusting to the Bull City as a whole might be a tougher nut for Finnerty to crack, Cotter said.
"Collin is innocent of these charges," he said. "It's stunning to him that he's even been accused. He's going to have mixed feelings about Durham. How could he not? He was charged here with a crime he didn't commit. It's put him and his family, and the other kids and their families, through hell for months now.
"But he's not the kind of guy to dwell on negative feelings," Cotter said. "He has a positive outlook. He's going to move forward and do well."
Information about the invitations to Finnerty and Seligmann were included in a memorandum from Moneta to Brodhead, which Duke released Wednesday.
"Our two students were placed on interim suspension when they were indicted last spring. In late summer, Duke modified the suspension to an administrative leave, which allowed the students to continue to make academic progress while not present at the university. Both have completed their coursework from last spring and are currently in good academic standing," Moneta wrote.
He said that, under current circumstances, further leaves of absence for Finnerty and Seligmann "would do unwarranted harm to their educational progress."
But if the two are found guilty of kidnapping and sex-offense charges, "Needless to say, [they] would remain subject to further disciplinary action," Moneta wrote.
Several Duke students camping out in "Krzyzewskiville" outside Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday to get good seats to February's Duke-UNC basketball game agreed that Finnerty and Seligmann would be welcomed back -- something many said wouldn't happen at other schools.
"Elsewhere, they'd be known only as the Duke lacrosse players, but Duke's going to make more of an effort [to make them comfortable] than any other school," said student Sarah Rabiner.
"These are two young men that we would welcome back with open arms," new Duke lacrosse coach John Danowski said Wednesday.
Danowski said he'd spoken to Finnerty and left a phone message for Seligmann.
"I spoke to Collin briefly and just let him know that I'm there if he needs any kind of support or whatever he needs," Danowski said. "It would be the same thing for Reade."
Duke begins practice for the 2007 lacrosse season Jan. 27 and has its opening game Feb. 24.
Staff writers BriAnne Dopart and Bryan Strickland contributed to this report.
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