2008 Woodie Awards
UI's Pierce report may be released soon
Brandon Campbell - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 1/27/03 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Answers could be coming soon in the investigation of the UI's involvement in criminal charges against Hawkeye basketball player Pierre Pierce last semester, said UI interim President Sandy Boyd.
At its monthly meeting Thursday, the Athletics Board may release recommendations that would ensure athletes are not given preferential treatment by the university. Boyd instructed the board to review the policies two months ago, after school officials fielded questions from Pierce's lawyers who wished to know whether the Athletics Department would work with a proposed mediated agreement between the Pierce and the woman he was accused of sexually assaulting.
"We want equitable treatment for all students with high profiles, low profiles, and those with no profile," Boyd said, adding that the recommendations could shape future policies regarding equal treatment of all students.
Board Chairman Nicholas Colangelo said that the committee has been interviewing members of the university community and studying the school's Code of Conduct.
If the investigation is not completed by Thursday, Colangelo said, the report would be released at the board's next meeting -- Feb. 27.
Pierce, 19, of Westmont, Ill., was initially charged with third-degree sexual assault and suspended from the basketball team after a Sept. 6 incident at his Orchard Street residence. He later pleaded guilty to assault causing injury and was allowed to redshirt for the 2002-03 basketball season.
Boyd asked for input on the matter Nov. 6 after more than 3,000 people signed petitions criticizing the university's involvement in mediating the criminal charges against Pierce. Boyd also called for two other committees to assess fallout from the case -- one to specifically investigate school officials' involvement and another to address issues regarding sexual assault on campus.
Margaret Raymond, a law professor and the head of the committee investigating the university's involvement, declined to give insight into its findings. She did say it is working "expeditiously."
Some people say they feel that the progress has been slow.
"It seems to be dying down," says Alicia Walker, a law student who helped organize a protest Nov. 19 during a Hawkeye men's basketball game. "I'm very upset. It's hard for me to cheer for the [basketball] team because Steve Alford is the coach."
She said she waits impatiently to receive the results from the investigations and hopes all issues are taken into consideration, such as the effect on the campus and how students rallied together to organize protests, demonstrating the issue's magnitude on campus.
Boyd says that in a few weeks, a third committee will be formed to look into the campus community and environment regarding sexual violence.
E-mail DI reporter Brandon Campbell at:
brandon-campbell@uiowa.edu
At its monthly meeting Thursday, the Athletics Board may release recommendations that would ensure athletes are not given preferential treatment by the university. Boyd instructed the board to review the policies two months ago, after school officials fielded questions from Pierce's lawyers who wished to know whether the Athletics Department would work with a proposed mediated agreement between the Pierce and the woman he was accused of sexually assaulting.
"We want equitable treatment for all students with high profiles, low profiles, and those with no profile," Boyd said, adding that the recommendations could shape future policies regarding equal treatment of all students.
Board Chairman Nicholas Colangelo said that the committee has been interviewing members of the university community and studying the school's Code of Conduct.
If the investigation is not completed by Thursday, Colangelo said, the report would be released at the board's next meeting -- Feb. 27.
Pierce, 19, of Westmont, Ill., was initially charged with third-degree sexual assault and suspended from the basketball team after a Sept. 6 incident at his Orchard Street residence. He later pleaded guilty to assault causing injury and was allowed to redshirt for the 2002-03 basketball season.
Boyd asked for input on the matter Nov. 6 after more than 3,000 people signed petitions criticizing the university's involvement in mediating the criminal charges against Pierce. Boyd also called for two other committees to assess fallout from the case -- one to specifically investigate school officials' involvement and another to address issues regarding sexual assault on campus.
Margaret Raymond, a law professor and the head of the committee investigating the university's involvement, declined to give insight into its findings. She did say it is working "expeditiously."
Some people say they feel that the progress has been slow.
"It seems to be dying down," says Alicia Walker, a law student who helped organize a protest Nov. 19 during a Hawkeye men's basketball game. "I'm very upset. It's hard for me to cheer for the [basketball] team because Steve Alford is the coach."
She said she waits impatiently to receive the results from the investigations and hopes all issues are taken into consideration, such as the effect on the campus and how students rallied together to organize protests, demonstrating the issue's magnitude on campus.
Boyd says that in a few weeks, a third committee will be formed to look into the campus community and environment regarding sexual violence.
E-mail DI reporter Brandon Campbell at:
brandon-campbell@uiowa.edu
