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Diary Of Accuser In CU Scandal Talks About Ruining Lives Of Player

Universities Wants More Portions Of Diary Released

POSTED: 8:41 am MST March 25, 2004
UPDATED: 2:33 pm MST March 25, 2004

The University of Colorado wants a magistrate to order the release of more diary entries by a woman whose lawsuit for an alleged rape triggered the school's football recruiting scandal.

Portions of Lisa Simpson's diary were included in her deposition, copies of which were obtained by the Longmont Daily Times-Call and the Rocky Mountain News. A judge ordered the entries sealed and copies of the deposition released earlier by the university had those portions blacked out.

University lawyers said in federal court filings that Simpson's diary might reveal other stresses or trauma that contributed to the emotional distress she is claiming.

Simpson's lawyers accused CU of going on a fishing expedition.

Her parents, Rick and Karen Burd, issued the following statement Thursday that blasted CU officials:

"We can no longer remain silent and watch our daughter be attacked by CU. The release of portions of Lisa’s diary, which were ordered sealed by the judge, is another in a series of unconscionable acts by the University. These attacks on our daughter and the other rape victims show just how desperate the University is to protect itself instead of getting to the bottom of the issues.

Elizabeth Hoffman and Richard Byyny claim to want the truth, but instead of listening, they allow CU’s lawyers to attack their own students. They claim to want to respect everyone’s privacy, except when it’s the privacy of a rape victim. If Elizabeth Hoffman really wants the truth, maybe she should take the time to listen to Lisa and the other victims instead of maligning them through the press."

School spokeswoman Michele Ames declined to comment about the diary entries, as did a spokeswoman for Simpson's attorneys.

"All these things we're talking about are subject to a protective order," Ames said. "We can't or won't discuss this."

Simpson, who dropped out of CU last month, said she was raped at a December 2001 off-campus party for football players and recruits. She is suing the school, claiming the university has created a hostile environment and other violations of federal gender-equity legislation.

Two other women who said they were raped during or after the party have filed lawsuits.

In her diary, Simpson wrote that she wanted to "ruin the lives" of football players she believes were present when she was allegedly gang-raped at the party.

"God help me, I will ruin the lives of (five specific players), and whoever the recruits are," she wrote.

During her Dec. 12 deposition, Simpson, told a CU lawyer she was angry when she wrote the entries. She said the journal was a private place where she could "release all of my most personal inner feelings."

Last month, federal Magistrate Craig Shaffer ruled that most of Simpson's diary entries don't mention the alleged rape and are irrelevant to the court case.

In a separate deposition in Simpson's federal lawsuit, Boulder County District Attorney Mary Keenan said she believes the Colorado football program uses sex and alcohol to entice recruits.

Keenan's remarks, made public in January, touched off a firestorm of criticism of the school. A panel formed by the Board of Regents and Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar are investigating the allegations.

University officials have overhauled policies for visits by recruits. Football coach Gary Barnett is on leave pending the outcome of the investigations.

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