Duke investigating sexual assault allegation made against former basketball player

[standingtall]

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The sexual assault allegation made recently against a former Duke men's basketball player is being investigated, the university announced Saturday.

In a series of statements released Friday through her attorney, Meredith Watson said a former Duke basketball player raped her in 1999. Watson also has said that Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax sexually assaulted her on Duke's campus in Durham, North Carolina, when they were both students in 2000.

The identity of the men's basketball player facing the allegation is not known.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said both he and the university understand the severity of the matter.

"I think there was an allegation made, right?" Krzyzewski said after Saturday night's victory at Virginia. "So, I'm not sure that's true or not, but there's an allegation. I didn't find out about it until late last night, and I have no knowledge about it. ... Our university will take care of whatever actions and give whatever information that's needed to be done. I think our [athletic director] has put out a statement that we'll give to you. It's very ... something like that is serious. So, our school looks at it that way, and we'll do whatever we can to make sure that we answer whatever questions are posed to us."


https://abc11.com/sports/duke-investigating-sexual-assault-allegation-made-against-former-basketball-player/5129866/

[RockRaven]

1. Unless those ellipses in Coach K's statement are VERY useful words, rather than pauses, this quote

is ENTIRELY underwhelming and quite frankly insulting to the audience.

I understand he has incomplete information, so it's fine to be appropriately circumspect or vague. But this was really, really weak and pathetic, in a circumstance in which apathy and indifference are fairly toxic. He KNEW he would have to say SOMETHING. And this is what he had?

[bdjhawk]

2. Coach K is a well known right winger FWIW

[Hav]

3. The former player should be named, for the good of society

Why come out about one but not the other? If there is a rapist running around, chances are high he had more victims and could have more in the future. Also, if it's true the Dean was informed, then he should know, too, and come out.

[Demsrule86]

4. Right let's ruin another guys life without proof of any sort. Sorry Women can't make these

accusations and then slip back into their lives leaving the guys in question ruined with no way to prove their innocence. I do not believe women always tell the truth nor that men always tell the truth. Perhaps those accused without proof could file civil suits.

[Hav]

7. I don't disagree with you and I'm very conflicted about the claims

But at the moment there is a serious accusation hanging in the air against an unknown person who might harm other people and also a very serious one against the Dean that needs to be addressed. If the person is named and innocent, they can defend themselves (possibly a hard task, I guess) and should consider counter suits if possible. It either gives more or less credibility to the claims. Either the claims fall apart or two serious criminals are exposed.
I admit that my thinking is probably too naive but I'd prefer to just somehow get to the bottom of it and witholding information doesn't help. Right now, everything seems to be in limbo and a group of maybe 15 former players is in danger of being under suspicion.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. The challenge is anybody can look at the 98-99 and 99-00 Duke basketball roster as I did.

It puts every player under a cloud

[Buckeyeblue]

5. So Duke is going to Investigate something that happened 20 years ago?

Why? And to what end? If anyone should Investigate it should be the local police. I'm not a lawyer but from what I read, it doesn't look like North Carolina has a statute of limitations on felony sex crimes.

[LisaL]

6. For police to investigate, the accuser has to go to the police and make a

complaint.
If there is no statute of limitation, she still could if she wanted to.

[Empowerer]

9. I have a concern about accusers willing to talk publicly but unwilling to request an investigation

It doesn't mean they're lying, but it doesn't help their credibility.

[Buckeyeblue]

10. Right. If you are going to accuse publicly you should file charges