The investigation into the alleged sexual assaults committed by three Michigan State football players is winding its way through the university student conduct system, and most recently, a Title IX investigation determined that the students did indeed violate university student conduct policy.
That’s according to the Detroit Free Press:
Lansing attorney Karen Truszkowski confirmed to the Free Press that the case against the three unnamed players is progressing through MSU’s student conduct system. She declined to give further details about the case.
“They have not been expelled or dismissed from the school at this point because it has not gotten to that stage yet,” Truszkowski said of the three players.
The students remain students at this point, however:
MSU spokesman Jason Cody said Monday the university has not taken any action to remove the three players as students, adding that he could not discuss specifics or outcome of the investigation due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. FERPA also prohibits MSU from releasing any outcome of the Title IX investigation and any potential violation of student conduct policy.
It should be noted that this is a separate case from the criminal case that is also being pursued by the victim, which remains ongoing, although no charges have yet been filed. There’s also an external investigation into the football program itself, which makes sense as a coach has been implicated as well. The players could end up being expelled as a result of the student conduct probe, but it would be separate from any potential criminal proceedings.
It’s difficult to write about a story like this, as so many details are by law not going to be made public, and it’s not an instance where any real speculation serves a purpose. In fact, it can end up detracting from the actual facts. (It also leads to winding non-comment comments like the one Mark Dantonio gave on the investigation.)
Still, it’s not unreasonable to hope that whatever investigations are ongoing are thorough and unhindered, and that eventually the facts are known. Whether that’s possible remains to be seen.
