University of Colorado Chancellor Richard Byyny faced tough questions Monday from the panel investigating the recruiting and sexual assault scandal at the school, specifically whether or not he knew about the problems before it was brought to light.

In a March 30 e-mail to the commission, Dr. David Hnida, the father of a female place kicker who claims she was raped by a teammate and sexually harassed by others, said that university officials must have known about sexual harassment problems his daughter was having at CU before she left.

Hnida wrote that Byyny, athletic director Dick Tharp and suspended football coach Gary Barnett had not acted on information he provided them after his daughter said she was sexually harassed and raped by former teammates.

"We both have been distressed at the information we read coming from the university, as well as Gary Barnett," David Hnida wrote. "To be blunt, there is quite a bit of lying and deception right now. For example, Richard Byyny denying he ever received an e-mail from me regarding sexual misconduct at the university while I have a copy of that e-mail as well as his response. This was almost three years ago."

Byyny said Monday that he gets 150 to 200 e-mails a day and initially didn't recall that Hnida's e-mail, but he went back and found it and told the panel what it said.

"He expressed concerns about whether Gary Barnett and Dick Tharp could be relied upon to do the investigation. I didn't worry very much about that, I guess, because it seemed to me that this was a criminal investigation. It wasn't going to involve them in making any decisions," Byyny said.

Byyny also said that he had sat in a meeting with Mary Keenan and remembering Tharp, and remembered that there was tension between them but he doesn't remember any sort of warning from her.

He said he doesn't recall the school being put "on notice" over its football recruiting practices.

The meeting with Keenan was held a few months after a Niwot high school student said she was raped by a football recruit.

It is one of at least eight assault allegations against CU football athletes since 1997.

No charges have been filed in any of the cases.

Separate probes are under way by the state attorney general and university.

Last week the panel set up a toll-free, nationwide tipline to help in their investigation. The number is (866) 277-3200. The commission hopes to get information about whether sex and alcohol have been part of the recruiting experience at the university.

Additional Resources:

Review Panel's Web site
Text Of David Hnida Letter To CU Panel Attorney
University of Colorado
NCAA

Previous Stories:

• April 16, 2004: CU Athletics Liaison Ponders Overhauling Sports Program
• April 15, 2004: CU Investigative Panel Deadline Extended
• April 13, 2004: Barnett Speaks To CU Investigative Panel
• April 12, 2004: Strippers Common In College Recruiting, Panel Told
• April 10, 2004: CU Official Concluded Woman Was Raped By Football Recruit
• April 10, 2004: Legal Issues Snag CU Investigators' Tip Line
• April 9, 2004: CU Announces New Two-Strikes Alcohol Policy
• April 7, 2004: CU Sex Assault Panel Frustrated Over Lack Of Access
• April 6, 2004: CU Sex Assault Investigators Defend University Ties
• April 6, 2004: Football Official: CU Never Condoned Alcohol Use By Athletes
• April 5, 2004: CU Cornerbacks Coach Placed On Leave
• March 30, 2004: CU Panel Learns Two More Women Have Claims Of Sexual Assault
• March 25, 2004: Report: Host Of CU Recruit Allegedly Raped Woman Year Earlier
March 25, 2004: Diary Of Accuser In CU Scandal Talks About Ruining Lives Of Players
• March 23, 2004: University Official Questioned About CU Athletes' Graduation Rates
• March 19, 2004: CU President Recommends Firing Professor Facing Sex Allegations
• March 18, 2004: Retired CU Professor Turns Down Award, Cites Scandal
• March 16, 2004: CU Considers Tightening Alcohol Policy
• March 15, 2004: Coach Calls CU Assault Problem 'Bump In Road'
• March 11, 2004: CU Scandal In Spotlight At Congressional Hearing
• March 9, 2004: Accuser In CU Rape Case May Talk To Independent Panel
• March 4, 2004: CU Changes Recruiting Policies Amid Scandal
• March 4, 2004: Barnett Talks Exclusively To 7SPORTS
• March 2, 2004: CU Recruiting Panel Approves $246,000 Investigation Budget
• March 2, 2004: CU Football Player Apologizes To Sexual Assault Victim In Letter
• March 1, 2004: Congressman Calls For Hearings Into CU Recruiting Practices
• March 1, 2004: CU Commission Hires Two Administrators
• February 27, 2004: Owens Appoints Salazar As Special Prosecutor For CU Recruiting Scandal
• February 27, 2004: CU Players Say Coaches Told Them To Buddy Up To Police
• February 25, 2004: CU's Athletic Department Liaison Named
• February 23, 2004: CU Student Rally Calling For Change In Investigative Panel
• February 20, 2004: Cabral Named CU Interim Head Coach
• February 20, 2004: CU Scandal May Prompt Congressional Scrutiny, Campbell Says
• February 19, 2004: Sixth Sexual Assault Case Concerning CU Surfaces
• February 19, 2004: Barnett Benched For Inappropriate Comments
February 18, 2004: NW Recruits Got Strippers Under Barnett

• February 18, 2004: CU May Make Announcement About Football Program
• February 17, 2004: Female Kicker Says She Was Raped At CU
• February 17, 2004: Member Of Newly Named CU Recruiting Panel Resigns
• February 17, 2004: Member Of Newly Named CU Recruiting Commission Resigns
• February 16, 2004: CU Regents Name Panel To Investigate Recruiting Allegations
• February 13, 2004: CU Admits Former Recruiting Employee Made Calls To Escort Service
• February 13, 2004: CU Admits Former Recruiting Employee Made Calls To Escort Service
• February 12, 2004: CU Willing To Discuss Settlements In Sex-Assault Lawsuits
• February 10, 2004: Company: Strippers Perform Regularly For CU Recruits
• February 9, 2004: Leader In CU Probe Backpedals After 'Victim' Comment
• February 7, 2004: Barnett Sanctions 4 Players For Recruiting Rules Violations
• February 7, 2004: Police Investigating If CU Officials Used Escort Service
• February 6, 2004: CU Regents Ask Former Lawmakers To Look Into Recruiting Scandal
February 6, 2004: Former CU Running Back Commits Suicide

February 6, 2004: Regent Threatened On Way To Meeting

• February 3, 2004: 2002 Letter Shows DA Questioning CU's Recruiting Practices
• February 3, 2004: Fired CU Quarterback Arrested On Sex Charges
• February 2, 2004: Lawmakers Want Investigation Into CU Recruiting Practices
• February 1, 2004: CU Students Say Athletes Pampered
• January 30, 2004: CU Regents Call Emergency Meeting To Discuss Alleged Sex Parties
• January 29, 2004: CU Officials Angrily Deny Using Sex Parties To Recruit
• January 28, 2004: Alleged Rape Victim Ordered To Surrender Mental Health Records
• January 15, 2004: Third Suit Filed Over CU Sex Party
• April 26, 2002: Prosecutors Decide Not To File Charges In CU Rape Case
• April 25, 2002: Will Charges Be Filed In Alleged CU Rape Case?
• April 16, 2002: DNA Results Back In Alleged CU Rape
• February 6, 2002: Webb's Grandson Discusses CU Rape Case
• January 14, 2002: CU Rape Investigation Picks Up Speed
• January 3, 2002: CU Gang Rape Probe Moves To California
• December 21, 2001: CU: No Suspensions Unless Rape Charges Filed
• December 20, 2001: CU Gang Rape Case To Go Forward
• December 18, 2001: Boulder Prosecutor's Office Joins Gang-Rape Probe
• December 17, 2001: Boulder Police Take Control In Gang Rape Investigation
• December 14, 2001: Gang Rape Investigated At CU Football Party