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NEWS
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ARTS & CULTURE
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Best Picture-nominated "Hidden Figures" movie review
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The Kansan and the Kentucky Kernel discuss Saturday's game
THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 2017 | VOLUME 133 ISSUE 04
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
KU athletes among witnesses in rape investigation
Sarah Wright/KANSAN a among those listed on
Saran Wright/KANSAN A rape reported at McCarthy Hall, pictured above, in December is still being investigated. Members of the men's basketball team are among those listed as witnesses on the police report.
KANSAN STAFF
@KansanNews
five Kansas men's basketball players are listed as witnesses in the investigation of an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl in McCarthy Hall. The incident allegedly took place sometime between 10 p.m. Dec. 17 and 5 a.m. Dec. 18, just after the end of finals week.
The police report regarding the incident from the University's Office of Public Safety lists Frank Mason III, Mitch Lightfoot, Lagerald Vick, Tucker Vang and Josh Jackson as witnesses. The report is available to the public and was obtained by the Kansan on Wednesday for $2.
PSO Deputy Chief James Anguiano said being identified as a witness means that they supplied information and could have been present before, during or after the incident.
Two females, both 19 years-old, were also witnesses. Neither of their names are found in the University's public student database, although one is listed as residing at 1632 Engel Road, the same address as University dormitory Hashinger Hall.
When asked if any of the witnesses could be suspects, Anguiano said the investigation is ongoing and that a suspect has not been identified. No charges have been filed.
According to a PSO press release, the girl who was allegedly raped was visiting McCarthy Hall, an on-campus apartment complex in which the men's basketball team resides, along with some upperclassmen and non-traditional students.
The girl also reported no physical injury, the release said.
According to Diana Robertson, the director of student housing, 38 students live in McCarthy Hall,17 of which are scholarship athletes. Two student housing employees live in McCarthy Hall, a resident assistant and a complex director. Robertson said that, according to the housing
handbook, all guests must be accompanied by residents, but because of the multiple entrances to the building, guests are not checked in at the 24-hour front desk.
As for security features of McCarthy Hall, Robertson said there is biometric scanning that allows residents to scan into their floors and rooms.
the report also lists additional allegations of providing alcohol to a minor; possession of drug paraphernalia; and contributing to a child's misconduct, which, according to the Kansas Legislature website, is related to encouraging a minor to commit a crime participate in illegal activity or be a runaway.
Two glass smoking devices were also confiscated, the report said.
KU Athletics is cooperating fully with the investigation, Jim Marchiony, the associate athletic director of public affairs, said in an email Tuesday night.
Sean Lester, deputy athletics director and the sport supervisor for men's basketball, is listed as "other" on the report. Anguiano said the classification means that Lester is participating in the investigation, but not as a witness.
Joe Monaco, the University's director of strategic communications, did not offer a comment on the incident, beyond to say that the investigation is ongoing and being handled by PSO.
The team had a game in Kansas City, Missouri, on the night of Dec. 17.
The Kansan will continue to follow-up on this story as more information becomes available. Check back at Kansan.com for further coverage.
Chandler Boese, McKenna Harford, Amie Just and Lara Korte contributed to this report.
- Edited by Candice Tarver
Andrew Rosenthal/KANSAN
Andrew Rosenthal/KANSAN Students enrolled in engineering classes will see a big change in the way their final grades are decided starting in the fall. The School of Engineering is implementing a plus/minus grading scale.
Plus/minus grading coming to School of Engineering in fall
▶ HAILEY DIXON
@ hailev_dixon
Although many University students are familiar with the plus/minus grading scale, the School of Engineering will be introducing it to its students beginning in fall 2017.
Lorin Maletsky, associate dean for undergraduate programs, said next semester, faculty in the school will have the choice to use or not use the new grading system.
"We are in the process of converting every course offered through the school to have the ability to have the plus/minus, just like the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and other people are able to use," Maletsky said. "So every faculty member could use the plus/minus system as they assign final grades."
Engineering Student Council President Aubrey Jeffries, a junior from Leawood studying petro-
Each faculty member is encouraged to emphasize what grading system they decide on in their syllabuses, he said.
SEE ENGINEERING
PAGE 2
Darreon Jackson 'no longer among' KU football recruits
► AMIE JUST
@Amie_Just
Darreon Jackson, a safety who verbally committed to Kansas football this week, is no longer being recruited by the football staff.
"David Beaty has told us that [Darreon Jackson] is no longer among the prospects Kansas is recruiting," Jim Marchiony, associate athletic director of public affairs, told the Kansan on Wednesday.
Jackson was suspended for six months by Boise State in May 2016 in regard to an alleged sexual assault.
Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star first reported the news of Kansas football rescinding its interest in Jackson.
Jackson began attending Boise State in 2015, but in May 2016 was given a year-long suspension from the school in regard to an alleged sexual assault that occurred the previous
Two other Boise State players, Marquis Hendrix and Donzale Roddie, were expelled from the university in connection with the same alleged sexual assault incident. Jackson was allegedly involved in one of the three incidents cited in the investigation, according to the Statesman.
semester, according to the Idaho Statesman. After an appeal, Jackson's suspension was reduced to a semester. No criminal charges were filed against Jackson before he transferred to Coffeyville Community College, where he played in the 2016-17 season.
INDEX
Contributed by Boise State Athletics
In the incident, the victim, a woman who was in a consenting sexual relationship with Hendrix, was allegedly told that she "need[ed] to do a favor" for the football team. One of the players on the team allegedly told her that they needed her to "show [a recruit] a good time." Both Hendrix and Jackson allegedly met her in a
residence hall stairwell on Oct. 2, 2015. Jackson allegedly smacked her behind and she was taken to a room where the recruit was. The victim said she felt trapped.
Jackson denied blocking the door and denied making physical contact with her. He also said, per the Statesman, "nobody forced her to do anything," but that she had performed oral sex on multiple football players.
Edited by Erin Brock
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