Gang Rape Investigated At CU Football Party
Police Interviewing CU Players, High School Recruits
POSTED: 8:36 a.m. MST December 13, 2001
UPDATED: 1:42 p.m. MST December 14, 2001
BOULDER, Colo. -- A University of Colorado student told police that she was gang-raped while hosting a party for CU football recruits last weekend, TheDenverChannel reported Thursday.
Campus police confirmed that they are investigating the report and are interviewing a half-dozen CU football players and about 15 high school recruits who attended the off-campus party.
"The witness was somewhat reluctant in the beginning but has
since decided to pursue charges," Boulder Police Detective Sgt.
Kurt Weiler said Wednesday.
Police won't say if any of them are suspects in the alleged sexual assault.
The party was organized by two female CU students who talked about the alleged assault with the Boulder Daily Camera.
They told the newspaper that everyone at the party was drinking heavily and the victim was one of the hostesses. The victim was raped by several of those attending, according to the two students, and was taken to Boulder Community Hospital which didn't notify police.
Hospital officials said they aren't required by law to report such assaults to authorities.
CU's football team will play the University of Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1. However, if any players become implicated in the rape investigation, it could affect their roles in the game.
Some current CU players may have chaperoned the recruits to the party, 7NEWS reported. If that is the case, the team roster may change before the Fiesta Bowl depending on what police find out, head coach Gary Barnett said.
Barnett (pictured, right) told reporters Thursday evening that he found out about the allegations on the news, like everyone else.
"There's no way that the alleged actions of a handful of people should be used to judge the kind of players and the kind of character that this team has. It would be very unfair to do that," Barnett said.
"We addressed it in the team meeting. That's when the majority of the players found out about the situation. We still don't know who's involved, and we still don't know the whole story," senior offensive lineman Andre Gurode said.
The investigation was under way as the CU football team, No. 3 in
the Bowl Championship Series, prepares for the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1
in Tempe, Ariz. They play Oregon (No. 2, BCS).
CU's Vice Chancellor Ron Stump issued a statement about the alleged rape Monday, which was two days before the victim told police she had been assaulted, according to the Camera.
"Regarding reports of an alleged sexual assault last weekend, the university takes any situation of this nature very seriously," Stump said. "If a sexual assault has occurred, we would hope the victim will come forward with information, provided she feels comfortable in doing so."
Students at the Boulder campus were surprised by the allegations, 7NEWS reported.
"Obviously, it's a little bit disturbing. The police should definitely check into it, if that's going on, but, make sure that everything checks out first," student Nick Weisert said.
Campus police confirmed that they are investigating the report and are interviewing a half-dozen CU football players and about 15 high school recruits who attended the off-campus party.
"The witness was somewhat reluctant in the beginning but has
since decided to pursue charges," Boulder Police Detective Sgt.
Kurt Weiler said Wednesday.
Police won't say if any of them are suspects in the alleged sexual assault.
The party was organized by two female CU students who talked about the alleged assault with the Boulder Daily Camera.
They told the newspaper that everyone at the party was drinking heavily and the victim was one of the hostesses. The victim was raped by several of those attending, according to the two students, and was taken to Boulder Community Hospital which didn't notify police.
Hospital officials said they aren't required by law to report such assaults to authorities.
CU's football team will play the University of Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1. However, if any players become implicated in the rape investigation, it could affect their roles in the game.
Some current CU players may have chaperoned the recruits to the party, 7NEWS reported. If that is the case, the team roster may change before the Fiesta Bowl depending on what police find out, head coach Gary Barnett said.
Barnett (pictured, right) told reporters Thursday evening that he found out about the allegations on the news, like everyone else.
"There's no way that the alleged actions of a handful of people should be used to judge the kind of players and the kind of character that this team has. It would be very unfair to do that," Barnett said.
"We addressed it in the team meeting. That's when the majority of the players found out about the situation. We still don't know who's involved, and we still don't know the whole story," senior offensive lineman Andre Gurode said.
The investigation was under way as the CU football team, No. 3 in
the Bowl Championship Series, prepares for the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1
in Tempe, Ariz. They play Oregon (No. 2, BCS).
CU's Vice Chancellor Ron Stump issued a statement about the alleged rape Monday, which was two days before the victim told police she had been assaulted, according to the Camera.
"Regarding reports of an alleged sexual assault last weekend, the university takes any situation of this nature very seriously," Stump said. "If a sexual assault has occurred, we would hope the victim will come forward with information, provided she feels comfortable in doing so."
Students at the Boulder campus were surprised by the allegations, 7NEWS reported.
"Obviously, it's a little bit disturbing. The police should definitely check into it, if that's going on, but, make sure that everything checks out first," student Nick Weisert said.
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
