Board of Regents president David Miles addresses the board on Tuesday, July 22, 2008, regarding the letters the University of Iowa received from the mother of an alleged sexual assault victim's mother, at the Pappajohn Business Building on the UI campus in Iowa City.
(Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Regents Vote to Reopen Investigation
By Justin Foss, Reporter
By
Becky Ogann
Story Created:
Jul 21, 2008 at 10:42 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 22, 2008 at 6:29 PM CDT
IOWA CITY - The Iowa Board of Regents is reopening its investigation into how the University of Iowa handled an inquiry into the alleged assault of a woman by two football players.
The regents voted unanimously Tuesday after learning the University withheld letters it received from the mother of an alleged sexual assault victim.
A female student said she was assaulted in a room in the Hillcrest Residence Hall last October. Two former Hawkeye football players, Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson, have pleaded not guilty to sexual abuse charges.
Last month the regents said the university handled the case appropriately, but that was before they received the letters.
The victim's mother wrote two letters to the University. One in November, another in May. In the letter, the mother says the University didn't do the right thing and didn't follow protocol.
Just last Friday, the Regents learned about those letters. They say they are dumbfounded because they investigated the incident and asked for all the information from the University and never got the letters.
"Why it is that eight months have passed and we never got the letters that the University didn't give them to the governing board. We don't know why we weren't given the letters," said David Miles, Regents President.
The University of Iowa President Sally Mason said the original thought for withholding the letters was to follow a federal law protecting student privacy. Now, she says that wasn't a good excuse.
"Those letters should have been given to the board of regents, we knew they existed and knew they were here," said Sally Mason, UI President.
Regents agreed and said its trust with the University of Iowa is damaged.
And repairing it will depend on the outcome of this re-opened investigation for which they hope to have answers by September 18th.
"What I hoped to show is that the Board of Regents takes their responsibility very seriously and if we need to look into something further, we will do that," said Miles.
The University of Iowa says its confident that the new investigation will say that it did follow procedure, despite the claims in this four-page letter.
The Regents said they'll look into everything, saying all Iowans are owed an accurate account of what happened.
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Thursday, Jul 24 at 7:20 AM bob from iowa city wrote ...
it is time to quit putting these athelets on a pedestal. as a matter of fact it is time to put athletics where they belong---below academics! we allow too many funds to go to the wrong places. the football coaches salery would go a long way in paying for, or lowering tuitions. lets get our priorities straight and these problems with mightier than thou atheletes will go away. this is just another cover up by the people who cause our problems!
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 4:25 PM CJ wrote ...
Also to Anonymous: Where is the responsibility for the person who breaks into your car and steals your money? Who mugs you as you walk down the street? Who abducts your child from the park? Is the actual CRIMINAL responsible for his/her actions, or just the victim? I don't care what sort of bad decisions a woman makes, she NEVER asks to be raped. When she says no, that's it. If a man can't respect that, it's on HIM. It's called self-control - all men have it, if they choose to use it
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 4:20 PM CJ wrote ...
To 2:34 Anonymous: Yes, everything we do has consequences. However, you are missing the point. When a woman says no - or is unconscious, as this woman was - and the man forces sex on her, it is RAPE. Doesn't matter if the girl went to the bar with him, if she asked him into her room, if she had a dozen drinks. We teach our daughters that no means no. Maybe we need to teach our sons the same thing. Maybe if people were not so concerned with blaming the victim, our sons would learn
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 3:18 PM Rob in CR wrote ...
You know that there are a lot of universities out there with really good athletic programs. Most of those universities don't seem to have these types of problems with their athletes. Is it because they have a better cover-up procedure, or is it because of how they handle behavioral issues with athletes. Discipline works!!!!
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:43 PM Anonymous wrote ...
So if you leave money in your car and it is stolen its not your fault. If you drive/walk into a known crime area covered in diamonds and gold its not your fault if you get robbed. If you leave your child unattened at the park and they are kidnapped, its not your fault. I think you so my point. Everything you do has consequences, so accept your bad decisions along with your good decisions.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:35 PM Steph wrote ...
I think some of you are missing the real point here. The assault itself is horrendous--that will have to play out in the courts. It's the cover-up by the University that is so abhorrent!
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:22 PM anonymous wrote ...
Since when is the Board of Regents a criminal investigation authority? Why don't they also investigate incidents and actions of all students? While the whole situation is a mess for the University, the Board ought to let the professionals do their job.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 12:14 PM CJ wrote ...
Those who think the girl should be held responsible are stuck in a time warp, and belong in the era when men could force sex on women without any legal repercussions. Luckily, this is not the world we live in today. If a woman is incapable of giving consent, it's rape. Doesn't matter that she may be drunk, that she may have invited them home with her - an invitation to your home is not an invitation to have sex. Only the most backwards people do not realize that.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 11:11 AM To Cw wrote ...
Just want to clarify your post: If a girl gets drunk and 3 guys rape her, she should be charged? To GET A LIFE PEOPLE: You're right the coach can not monitor the players nor should he be held responsible for their actions. However he should be held responsible for his own actions which in this case were wrong.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:36 AM To Miss 10:04 wrote ...
Far from it. I advocate being responsible for you own actions however if you are in a situation where you are no longer able to make decisions whether you are intoxicated or incapacitated and someone takes advantage of that it is wrong. If she allowed them to buy her drinks she showed poor judgment, that still does not give them the right to take advantage of her. Men are supposed to protect not assualt and batter, these two are punks and deserve punishment.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:04 AM Dear 8:52AM wrote ...
You are saying it is OK for a girl to let guys buy her drinks, take her to their apartment and expect them to gentelmen? I am a 50 year old woman and this has NEVER been accepable in my lifetime. And from this story it still is not acceptable. But my mom taught me better and this has never happened to me.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:46 AM privacy? wrote ...
they withheld letters because of a privacy law!! this is a criminal case did they actually think this was protecting the girl or are we trying to keep ticket sales up for the upcoming football season. a lot of iowa players have been accused of different crimes this year and does anything happen because they are the big money makers for the college NO! nice role models boys, i'll be urging my kids to go to iowa state
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:52 AM to CW wrote ...
So what you're saying is it is OK for guys to get a girl intoxicated to where she cannot make reasonable decisions, take advantage of her and not be held accountable. I really hope you never have children. If these punks had touched my daughter they wouldn't be worrying about court, they would have already been judged and sentenced and executed. Just because the girl is intoxicated is not an excuse for their actions, they are guilty of rape and deserve to be punished as harshly as possible.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:08 AM WaterlooGuy wrote ...
Looks like it is time to Clean house at IOWA. granted the Coaches cannot keep an eye on the players 24/7 but the first time a player crosses the line they are gone no questions asked. As for the Coach it sounds like he and other wanted to just wanted to hide this from the public. If that is the case Iowa needs to be Looking for another Coach soon. Maybe one that can enforce the rules better.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 7:51 AM Momma Told Me So wrote ...
Goes to Show: Want to Look into the Status of Iowa Football- Just Check the Police Blotter!!!!!!!
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 7:49 AM for CR Hawk wrote ...
The next time you spend $55 on a ticket to watch a bunch of over compensated thugs play a game ask yourself why are you supporting rapist, thieves, drunks and more. I will agree actual students need a lot more support, but these spoiled brat atheletes are a disgrace. Hopefully those who continue to misbehave are quickly kicked out of school and sent back home where they can do something meaningful with their lives, like flipping burgers. It would be an improvement.
Wednesday, Jul 23 at 12:14 AM Cw wrote ...
Apparently the female student athletes have a right to go out and get drunk and do things they shouldn't and then after the fact, file charges, true or not, and get off scot free. Isn't this a double standard?
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 10:51 PM Another Hawk alum from CR wrote ...
I am disgusted along with every other Hawk fan I know. What is with our team? Who is proud of them? Does anyone have any morals? The drinking and partying needs to stop. I know everyone in college likes to have a good time but they obiviously can't do it responsibly. Kirk needs to make the workouts hard and long so they will be too tired to go out. These men are not setting good examples for our youth. I am not sure what the answer is recruiting or what, but something HAS GOT TO CHANGE!!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 10:36 PM Wake Up Regents & Iowa Citiens wrote ...
People need to finally wake up and take action on this type of sick behavior. Everyone who has a significant female in their lives should be so outraged by this that the UofI never hears the end of it! Imagine your significant someone in place of the poor victim in this case and then see if your able to just stay quiet & wait for the UofI to cover it up. Make your voice and outrage heard. This sort of thing needs to STOP NOW! Shame on those who would minimize it. Who's held accountable????
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 8:07 PM GET A LIFE PEOPLE wrote ...
Ferentz nor the U of Iowa can keep a 24/7 watch on these guys. Ferentz needs to take a long look at who is leading his recruiting and where, but you cannot hold him responsible for these bozos actions. Like no one who posted here has ever had a friend or relative who has done something against the law, maybe you should be in prison with them too and lose your job. The only reason Ferentz should be fired is if he cannot produce a winning team, end of story- grow up people!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 7:57 PM 7:28PM - Your right wrote ...
"Two former Hawkeye football players, Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson". Appears to be yet another example of the concept Cultural Diversity at its best.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 7:28 PM Anonymous wrote ...
just look at there names
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 7:27 PM Please wrote ...
Please replace the regents with real people.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 7:20 PM D wrote ...
It seems like coach Ferenz knew about this and other coaches as well. Rather than blame the athletes like this, lets take it to the coaches and as Iowan's demand he resign, or get fired. These kids are spoiled and not worth the trouble they bring to our state and activity like this from them and then from the univerity should not be tolerated and we as Iowans should show them how we welcome this!!!!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 6:28 PM Susie wrote ...
Money talks. Stop donating money and things will change down there. I dare fans to boycott the season. Eastern Iowa has alot of good high school athletes, let's show them support instead of paying homage to the black & gold on Saturdays.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 5:07 PM Always Learning wrote ...
Do all colleges have felons on their football teams or just the Hawkeyes? I agree with the Social Conduct Clause, if they don't adhere to it, they lose their scholarships, end of story. There have got to be consequences or this will just continue.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 5:00 PM HawkBigSis wrote ...
I agree that something needs to happen in regard to the conduct of student athletes, they should be held to a higher standard. Also though, let's not forget about all of the hard work and volunteering that 3/4 of the team does do. Do not disregard the whole team based on what a few guys are doing. I know that my brother has to earn his scholarship every year, attends weight lifting all summer, maintains a full time job, and a B average. Maybe if you recruit Good old boys, the results will change
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 4:47 PM happy regents wrote ...
I sure the recents approve of them investigating rather than an unbiased agency or within a civil suit launched by the victim.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 4:41 PM Educated Hawk Fan wrote ...
Sports have a lot of good qualities as well. It is important for people to get out and exercise and work as a team if we don't, we will continue to be fat, lazy, slops infront of our computers.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 4:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...
"This is what happens" is right. It's too bad that people in the position of authority will go the extra mile to cover up an incident like this for a couple of guys who can run real fast and catch a ball. The priorities of the University really come to light in this case, it's a shame that they will protect their football team's reputation over helping a woman clearly in need. Good work U of I, you make me sick!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 4:34 PM Alfred Joes Boy wrote ...
Is there anything to the rumor that the new Johnson County jail is going to be located between Kinnick and Hawkeye-Carver so as to enable the Hawkeye student athletes to walk to practice and games?
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 4:26 PM Female Athletes wrote ...
It's amazing that you don't hear about the female athletes getting into trouble, unless of course they've been raped by the male athletes. Heads better roll over this mess.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:59 PM gladtobeamomof3 wrote ...
So another black eye for the football program, that would have been minor compared to what is turning out to be a cover-up scandal. If I were the President of the University, the MINUTE I got even an inkling that something like this was going on, I would have used everything in my power to make sure proper procedures were being followed and that the victim NOT the football program were being protected. I bet things would have been done different if it was Mason's child who was the victim!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:57 PM Anonymous wrote ...
It's so funny how people are saying "Oh, that's Iowa Football" when really... couldn't it be possible this girl made this up because she knew what the reputation was and what kind of response she'd get. It's always a possibility..
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:57 PM Hmm??? Fishy??? wrote ...
Why isn't there person assualted writing these letters?? Is this possiably a case of a mother with a grudge??
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:53 PM dam wrote ...
Yay!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:51 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Can't help but think that the clock is about to hit midnight on a certain coach......
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:46 PM Read the letter wrote ...
Ihave just read the letter on the Gazzette website, they are very upsetting that the U of I would handle this in such a manner.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:31 PM Teca wrote ...
If you haven't already, check our the Cedar Rapids' Gazette's article about this. Online there is a copy of the first letter the mother sent to the UofI. It will really make you sick!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:16 PM Eaglelady76 wrote ...
I find it interesting that a post on the Gazette online this a.m. has been deleted. I wrote it in reference to the letter from the Mother because it was reported that the incident happened in Oct but was not reported until November making the victim look bad. However, if you read the letter that is on Gazette Online you will see the victim's family was involved shortly after the incident. I don't condone drinking but I dare say no man has a right to abuse a woman at ANY time! Pray for justice
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:10 PM ME wrote ...
Hey guys..let it go...the guys are going to trial and if true will go to jail...and besides why didn't the mother just call the police?
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:09 PM Listen Ladies wrote ...
What happened to the day when girls were raised to understand that most boys have ONE thing on their mind. Especially an athlete with testerone levels to the moon? Get real girls, dont put yourself in a situation where this can happen - we need to talk about this with our daughters. Why were the boys in her room or why was she in the boys room? This is a classic situation that we refuse to accept. You teach your daughter to not walk in front of a moving car why not teach this also?
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:07 PM CR Hawk wrote ...
I am sorry "This is why I do not support sports and refuse to ever watch football or basketball" The next time you see 75,000 people show up at $55 a ticket watch watch someone take a test, then you can speak.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:04 PM An ex. ISU Football Recruiter in I.C. wrote ...
A full ride scholarship for Sports and academics is a PRIVELEDGE!!! Our football players at the Iowa state schools are receiving a FREE $64,000 college education and experience and some of them do not appreciate it! When I recruited from 88'-1993 we focused on well-rounded individuals with "class." Reevaluate your recruting systems and hopefully no more rapes, aasaults and OWI's will occur. My sympathies go out to the mother and her daughter for this horrendous incident. DO NOT STAY SILENT!!!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:43 PM snw wrote ...
Makes you proud to be a Hawkeye, doesn't it?
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:42 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Why did it take 7 months to release the names. The university offered very little information nformation on this issue all along. If this university policy is ok with the regents, then the regents shouldnt be investigating it. It still seems too close to them investigating themselves. Goverment alway pulls this trickery and it seems unfair for them to investing themselves
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:34 PM Stumpy wrote ...
Read the report. Both the Ad and Head Coach MUST be fired for not calling the Police when alleagtions were first made. Why not call Police? Have an investigation and clear or charge the boys, the rest is now history..
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:33 PM university criticism wrote ...
What makes the regents impartial and qualified to investigate this? They already supported the university in specfying that conformance to the internal policy good enough. How is university policy above the law.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:29 PM Sp1ke wrote ...
Old Guy, can it ok? I've already talked about some of the other threads you have been leaving. Quit trying to be funny, learn how to write and stay off KCRG. You're not funny, and you're not whitty. So please do us all a favor and quit trying. As for the football guys, I love sports, but they're not everything.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:29 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Disgraceful school.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:28 PM Lock em' up! wrote ...
Let's take care of the problem and lock up the entire team! It would save Iowa a lot of embarassment!
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 2:19 PM Hawk fan wrote ...
I think its time for Kirk to hold two a day practices from 4:30am to 7am and from 6pm to 9pm and run them until they drop so they will be too tired to get into trouble
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 10:46 AM This is what happens wrote ...
When you recuit athletic thugs who can play sports instead of actual students. To much emphasis on sports and not nearly enough on education. Is sports that important that we will continue to give scholarships to idiots, theives, rapists, drunk drivers whose only social contribution is their ability to catch a ball instead of promoting education and finding students who will do something for the world. This is why I do not support sports and refuse to ever watch football or basketball.
Monday, Jul 21 at 4:30 PM Social Conduct Clause wrote ...
Sport figures need to have in their contract a "social conduct clause". If they misbehave according to society they loose their contract. If sports did this and stuck to it, maybe they would behave better.
Monday, Jul 21 at 3:50 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Those who tried to cover it up are just as guilty as those who are accused of the crime. I hope that mother never stops. Someone MUST take respoonsibility for this messed up scandal
Monday, Jul 21 at 3:41 PM grannyof3 wrote ...
Well the Iowa Board of Regents had better do a good job investigating this mothers allegations regarding what media is reporting that Frentz and Bolsby were in contact with the family asking not to press charges. If this indeed happened, then Frentz needs kicked to the curb !!!! Is there no morals anymore ? Any UI alumni had better check into this allegation !!
Monday, Jul 21 at 2:16 PM Old Guy wrote ...
Ah another season of football will be upon us soon. We will be recruiting from all the jails in the US so please have your letters ready for us so we will know who to recruit. We are presently recruiting Sexual Predators and people who run naked around town. If you have something better please highlite that in your letter. We still have plenty of opening for scolarships. No math or english or science people though our budget is tight. Thank you.,
Monday, Jul 21 at 1:26 PM College AD wrote ...
what is missing here is the history of mis conduct by hawkeye Athletes and HOW it was handled in the Fry era. The Sherrif of Johnson County was very hands on in keeping Haydens Boys from the police blotter. I know that the guys were punished in house and Fry did make them accountable to the program. The times have changed and the internet has assisted with getting this infoout in 20 seconds to all who want to know what transgressions the Hawks were involved with. Thanks to the Media we all know
Monday, Jul 21 at 12:13 PM angry hawk fan wrote ...
What they didn’t get drunk strip and run from the cops? And they call themselves haweyes?!!!
Monday, Jul 21 at 12:00 PM Anonymous wrote ...
When you are in Iowa City and you call to report a crime, make sure you include the jersey number in the description... Really, what is wrong with the UofI sports program? Are they recruiting from reform schools? Something needs to be done soon or good players (without will not want to come to the UofI and the program will suffer more than it already is.
Monday, Jul 21 at 11:05 AM James in DBQ wrote ...
Must be U of I policy to sweep things under the rug. Athletes seem to get the benefit of doubt when it comes to scholarships.
Monday, Jul 21 at 10:56 AM LMK wrote ...
Well I havent heard much about the case but I would hope these students would have been kicked from the team and the school and investigated by the authorities. Otherwise the question is, who will be their next victim?
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