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Villanova Rescinds Admission For 3 Accused Of Rape
Villanova Student Says She Was Raped On Campus
POSTED: 12:47 pm EDT July 25, 2007
UPDATED: 10:45 pm EDT July 25, 2007
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Three Villanova football players being investigated in a sexual assault had their admission to the university rescinded on Wednesday night.
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Video The incoming freshmen were involved in a campus incident with a female student on July 14, which was reported to Villanova's public safety department the next day. "It was a report of forcible rape," university spokeswoman Liz Kennedy Walsh said. The three players were asked to leave campus last Friday, and the university decided to kick the students out of school after an investigation. The three players were enrolled for one summer class and knew the woman who reported the assault, Walsh said. The alleged victim, whose name has not been released by the school, has not gone to the police, she said. "Our primary concern has been the welfare of our students and particularly the students who have been involved in this situation," said Villanova coach Andy Talley. "We've tried to move forward with a great deal of respect for them and we trust that everyone else will do that as well." According to the report, which the student filed on the July 15, she was sexually assaulted overnight from July 14-15.The security log listed the incident as "rape by force," and a campus representative said that some football players were asked to leave the campus last Friday because of an incident that occurred during the weekend of the alleged rape.Liz Walsh, associate vice president of communications at Villanova University, said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that the university immediately began an investigation.She said the school's policy is to meet with the woman, counsel her and provide her with all available options, which included alerting the police."Ultimately it is the students' decision whether or not to notify local authorities," Walsh said. "Villanova's policy is not to notify without the consent of the student."However, the school has continued its investigationWalsh said Villanova recorded the incident immediately, as is required by the Clearey Law, in its daily safety log and it was published the morning following the incident."This incident involves individuals known to each other, based on that and all other facts, we determined that there is not a continuing threat to students or employees on the Villanova campus," Walsh said.However, after the initial investigation, individuals in question were asked to leave the campus, she said.Walsh said the investigation was expected to be complete quickly and the university will report any further information as it becomes available.Students were in disbelief earlier Wednesday after news spread of the alleged rape."I'm very surprised because it is a wonderful university and I always feel like it's safe when I'm on campus," Nadia Warriner, a graduate student, said.Some female students said they don't feel safe."It makes me nervous for the kids living on campus now. When I was living on campus I made sure to always walk with a buddy to the dorms," Krista Hankins, a graduate student, said.Campus police knew about the incident 10 days ago and they said they told the university immediately. But all of the students NBC 10 spoke with said they learned about the rape allegations through the news media Wednesday."There are kids here who are far younger than I am and if you don't know what's going on, if you don't know there are some issues on campus it just gives you a false sense of security," Dawn Marie Fichera, a graduate student, said.Initially Radnor Township police said they were not involved but late Wednesday afternoon they said they were investigating.The incident was no doubt taking a toll on many members of the community, including Talley, who spoke about the allegations during a media day in Maryland.
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