Three football players have been expelled from Purdue University in connection with an alleged sexual assault, according to the law firm that represents the family of an alleged victim.
According to Indianapolis’ Fox 59, the law firm, Massillamany & Jeter LLP, claims that the university’s administrative board came to the decision after an internal investigation, though Purdue refused to directly comment on the situation. Instead, they claimed:
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Federal law prohibits the university from releasing specific information regarding disciplinary sanctions against a student, however, we reiterate that Purdue takes any report of sexual assault seriously. The university consistently follows its processes to ensure the rights of all parties involved are respected.
The players were not initially charged by the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office after the prosecutor’s office reviewed evidence of the sexual assault, which allegedly occurred at the players’ off-campus home on October 13 of last year. At the time, multiple women reported the incident to the West Lafayette Police Department and school authorities. But despite firm partner Mario Massillamany’s insistence to expel the three players—each of whom had a previous criminal record—Purdue only initially suspended the players, permitting them on campus to go to class.
After the school board’s move to expel the players, the mother of the victim said in a statement provided by Massillamany & Jeter LLP, “I would like to thank Purdue University for allowing my family to receive the closure that we needed to begin the healing process.”
