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Oregon releases timeline of actions after learning of sexual assault investigation March 9

Michael Gottfredson, Rob Mullens

University of Oregon President Michael Gottfredson, left, and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rob Mullens answer questions about the status of students investigated for sexual assault, during a news conference Friday May 9, 2014 in Eugene. The school announced the players, 19-year-old Damyean Dotson, 19-year-old Dominic Artis, and 18-year-old Brandon Austin, were suspended because their conduct was not befitting student-athletes based on allegations made by a student who said she was assaulted by the players at a postgame party and at an apartment in early March. (AP Photo/The Register-Guard, Chris Pietsch)

AP

While the fate of the three Oregon players investigated for sexual assault was officially determined Friday, the administration is still under fire for its handling of the legal situation. On Tuesday the university released a timeline of its actions once the Eugene Police Department notified them about an investigation into allegations of sexual assault on March 9. This release comes during a time in which faculty and students alike have demanded more transparency from the administration in regards to this case.

Damyean Dotson, Dominic Artis and Brandon Austin were officially dismissed from the program May 1. Dotson and Artis were allowed to play in the NCAA tournament despite their being investigated, with the Ducks beating BYU before falling to Wisconsin on March 22.

According to the school’s timeline president Michael Gottfredson did not learn the identities of the three players in question until March 19, two days after the school stated that it asked the Eugene PD if they should sideline the players (Artis and Dotson) ahead of the team playing in the NCAA tournament.

March 17: UO asks Eugene police specifically if any players should be kept back from the NCAA Tournament, or if contingency plans should be made to return them to campus. EPD advises the university to do nothing to alert the players to the investigation, to do what they normally would do regarding who plays and who doesn’t. EPD declines to reveal the names of any players.

March 18: UO contacts Eugene police again to ask if the players should travel to the tournament. EPD again advises the university not to alter their plans.

March 19: President Gottfredson learns the names of the student-athletes being investigated. The president maintains the confidentiality of this information to protect the integrity of the criminal investigation.

Recently former Eugene City Councilor Keith Hornbuckle filed a Title IX complaint on behalf and in support of the players (albeit without their knowledge) with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights according to Andrew Greif of The Oregonian. And according to Greif’s report a biology professor has submitted a motion with the UO system and the school’s Board of Regents to have Gottfredson’s contract “terminated immediately.”

According to reports there will be two separate meetings on Wednesday to discuss the school’s (and athletic department’s) handling of the case.

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