Posted on 06/19/2002 1:14:26 PM PDT by Drew68
Nine University of Colorado students could face sanctions, from probation to expulsion, for their roles in a football recruiting party that resulted in rape accusations and the arrests of four players for giving booze and pot to minors.
Officials with CU's Office of Judicial Affairs said Tuesday nine students have been charged with violating the university's code of conduct for activities at a Dec. 7 party that involved heavy drinking and group sex.
The cases will be heard by a panel of students, faculty and staff. If convicted, the students could disciplined.
The nine students include women and men, athletes and non-athletes, said Matthew Lopez Philips, acting director of judicial affairs. Four of the students are football players who were charged with felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, said Rev. Gill Ford, regional director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Ford was critical of CU's inquiry, but the uncle of one of the football players said the school did a better job of investigating the incident than the police did.
CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny also announced Tuesday new athletic department policies aimed at building moral character. He said the policies should prevent such an incident from happening again.
Byyny called for changes in recruiting practices including notifying recruits and parents about standards of conduct; establishing strict curfews; increasing adult supervision; training upperclassmen to serve as hosts; and preparing structured itineraries for campus visits.
"I have made it clear that it is essential these improvements be implemented quickly and that the athletic department communicate to its staff and student athletes that these improvements get the highest priority," Byyny said in a statement.
Ford called CU's handling of the case and its judicial sanctions "disingenuous."
"The only thing they're doing is damage control," Ford said. "There is pressure put on these kids by an adult, by a coach, to say, 'You better do everything necessary to get this (recruit) here.' "
Ford also said the fact that women and white students were charged fails to convince him the process has been equitable for black students. Ford has blasted Boulder police for charging four black players with felonies when a drinking incident that ended with a minor being hospitalized involving white sorority women resulted in misdemeanor charges.
Junior defensive end Marques Harris, sophomore receiver Ron Monteilh, junior safety Corey Alexander and sophomore cornerback Allen Mackey will appear in court July 26. Boulder police investigated an alleged sexual assault at the party, but prosecutors did not to pursue the case.
Sonny Flowers, Mackey's attorney, said the case is being treated "as if a party of kids at which alcohol is overindulged is a aberration. "It seems like they're going to over-enforce things when what really needs to happen is an education program that is really real," Flowers said.
The campus' judicial system is separate from the criminal justice system, but the university uses information from the criminal investigation and courts.
Harris' uncle, Bryan Wiman, of Grand Junction, said CU's investigation was better than the one by police because it included students other than players.
"I think the University of Colorado probably must have done a more thorough investigation," Wiman said.
Contact Julie Poppen at (303) 892-5176 or poppenj@RockyMountainNews.com.
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - BOULDER - Four University of Colorado football players and five other students have been charged by the university's Judicial Affairs office with violating the school's student code of conduct. The charges stem from their behavior at a Dec. 7 football recruiting party. Male and female students are charged, according to a CU news release.
The four football players - Marques Harris, Allen Mackey, Corey Alexander and Ron Monteilh - already face criminal charges in connection with the party, which ended with a woman claiming rape. No one was charged with that crime.
All are charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Monteilh also is charged with distribution of marijuana.
Judicial Affairs office manager Theresa Rogers cited federal privacy laws in declining to name the nine students. However, representatives of the four players have said that their clients all face a Judicial Affairs hearing.
Acting director of the office, Matthew Lopez-Phillips, could not be reached for comment.
Sonny Flowers, who represents Mackey, said he could learn Mackey's fate as early as today. He guessed that Mackey, a defensive back, would not be expelled.
Stephan Wall, who represents Monteilh, said his client would appear before a hearing board Thursday. Lee Strickler, Alexander's attorney, said Alexander is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday.
"The Office of Judicial Affairs terrifies me," Flowers said. "I think they can be very, very harsh, even when that's not what their intent is. I've found that to be the case before (Lopez-Phillips) took over."
CU students facing a Judicial Affairs charge have three options - accept blame, go before a single hearing officer who investigates the case or go before a full hearing board.
The university's process does not require the same burden of proof as a municipal court does. A student may have an adviser present during a hearing, but only the student may cross-examine a witness.
Wall said he was concerned that Monteilh could be found guilty based solely on a police interview with David Gray, a recruit who signed with the University of California after failing to land a scholarship at CU.
Gray told police that he had sex with the alleged rape victim. He was the only witness to tell police Monteilh provided marijuana at a pre-party dorm gathering.
"I don't think David Gray's identification is credible," Wall said.
Strickler said the office tries to do its best, but called it a "loose cannon."
"At least in court, there are due-process guarantees. In Judicial Affairs, those are conspicuously absent," she said.
CU also released a memo dated June 4 from chancellor Richard Byyny to athletic director Dick Tharp. The two later met to discuss Byyny's proposals "to promote sportsmanship and foster good character," which the chancellor said he would like in place by this fall.
"I have made it clear to Dick Tharp that it is essential these changes be implemented quickly and that the department communicate to its staff and players that these changes get the highest priority," Byyny said. "Our focus will be not only to win on the playing field but to also win new respect for our model behavior.'
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.