UW-Madison reinstates Cephus after sexual assault acquittal

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on Wisconsin reinstating receiver Quintez Cephus following his acquittal on sexual assault charges (all times local):

4:45 p.m.
Wisconsin football officials say receiver Quintez Cephus is back on the team after a jury acquitted him of sexual assault charges but it might be some time before he plays in a game.

The university expelled Cephus earlier this year, months before his trial. Chancellor Rebecca Blank decided Monday to reinstate him.
Brian Lucas is a spokesman for Wisconsin football. He issued a statement late Monday afternoon saying Cephus has officially rejoined the team but he faces "eligibility issues" before he can participate in a game.

The statement doesn't elaborate but goes on to say that the athletic department takes sexual misconduct allegations "very seriously."

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can find a list of resources below:

Rape Crisis Center (Dane County)
24/7 Helpline: (608)-251-7273
Office: 608-251-5126
Email: [email protected]
2801 Coho Street, Suite 301
Madison, WI 53713

UW-Madison Satellite Office
Email: [email protected]
333 E. Campus Mall, Room 7901
Madison, WI 53715

Milwaukee – Counseling Center of Milwaukee
2038 North Bartlett Ave Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 271-2565 (M-TH 8:30 A.M. 9:00 P.M.; F 8:30 4:30; SAT 9:00 A.M. 12:00 P.M.)
Crisis Line: (414) 271-9523 (24 Hours)
Fax Number: (414) 271-0102
Website: www.tccmilw.org

Milwaukee – Sexual Assault Treatment Center
Sinai Samaritan Medical Center
960 North 12TH ST, Room 2120 Milwaukee, WI 53201

West Allis Memorial Hospital
8900 W Lincoln Ave Milwaukee, WI 53214
Phone: (414) 219-5850
Crisis and Information Line: (414) 219-5555 (24 Hours)
Fax Number: (414) 219-7570

Milwaukee – The Healing Center
611 W National Ave, 4TH Floor Milwaukee, WI 53204
Phone: (414) 671-4325 (671-HEAL)
Crisis Line: (414) 671-4325 (24 Hours)
Fax: (414) 671-6836
Web Address: www.thehealingcenter.org 

More resources: http://www.wiep.uscourts.gov/healthcare/Directory_of_Wisconsin_Rape_Crisis_Centers.html#se
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4:25 p.m.

Wisconsin football officials say receiver Quintez Cephus is back on the team after a jury acquitted him of sexual assault charges but it might be some time before he plays in a game.

The university expelled Cephus earlier this year, months before his trial. Chancellor Rebecca Blank decided Monday to reinstate him.
Brian Lucas is a spokesman for Wisconsin football. He issued a statement late Monday afternoon saying Cephus has officially rejoined the team but he faces "eligibility issues" before he can participate in a game.

The statement doesn't elaborate but goes on to say that the athletic department takes sexual misconduct allegations "very seriously."
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11:55 a.m.

Wisconsin has reinstated former Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus after he was acquitted of sexual assault charges, but his attorney says the school has upheld sexual harassment violation against him.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced Monday that Cephus can return to school after a jury acquitted him earlier this month of second- and third-degree sexual assault. Two women had accused him of assaulting them both in one night in April 2018. Cephus was expelled earlier this year ahead of his trial.

The school said new information had come to light but some violations of the university's nonacademic misconduct policy were upheld. The statement didn't elaborate.

Cephus' attorney, Stephen Meyer, says he believes the new information was 250 pages of court documents he supplied to the university.
He says the school vacated the sexual assault findings but upheld a sexual harassment violation. He said that violation is related to a picture that Cephus asked his roommate and fellow receiver, Danny Davis, to take of the women as they slept in Cephus' room.
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10:45 a.m.

Wisconsin football officials say they don't have any information on when reinstated receiver Quintez Cephus might rejoin the team.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced Monday she had decided to allow Cephus to return to school after a jury acquitted him earlier this month of sexual assault charges. He was expelled earlier this year for violating the school's non-academic misconduct code.

Coach Paul Chryst has said he would welcome Cephus back.

Wisconsin football spokesman Brian Lucas said he didn't have the answer when asked when Cephus would rejoin the team. Lucas said he has canceled a previously scheduled post-practice news conference Monday with players.
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10:15 a.m.

Former Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus has been cleared to return to school after a jury acquitted him of sexual assault charges.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced the decision Monday. The school says it obtained information that wasn't provided during a student conduct review. The statement said sanctions against Cephus have been "reduced" and his expulsion has been lifted. The statement didn't elaborate.

Cephus was suspended from the football team in August 2018 after he was charged. He was expelled from the university for violating its nonacademic misconduct policies.

A jury acquitted him of the charges Aug. 2. His attorneys have been pressuring Blank to let him return.

Blank says she hopes the decision doesn't deter sexual assault victims from coming forward.

See the full statement from UW-Madison below:

UW–Madison has a responsibility to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct in a prompt and thorough manner, as directed by state and federal laws. The university applies its code of conduct impartially and consistently regardless of the identities of the individuals involved.

In the case of Quintez Cephus, this process functioned appropriately and in accordance with state and federal guidelines and proceeded based on the information available to UW–Madison at the time of the university’s investigation and hearing process.

UW–Madison obtained information following the criminal proceeding that was not provided to the university during the student conduct process. Chancellor Rebecca Blank conducted a review of this information and the petition for Quintez Cephus’ reinstatement as quickly as possible and in a complete and impartial manner.

As a result of this review, sanctions for Quintez Cephus have been reduced and his expulsion lifted. There were findings of responsibility of the student non-academic misconduct code that were upheld.

Mr. Cephus has been reinstated as a UW–Madison student, effective immediately.

“All three of the primary participants in this case are our students, and I know the past year has been painful for everyone involved,” said Blank. “My decision is based on the availability of substantial new information that wasn’t made available to us during the earlier process. I recognize that some will disagree with this decision.”

“To those in our community who have experienced sexual assault, I sincerely hope that there is nothing in this case that will deter you from coming forward for support,” she added. “Our university continues to be prepared to listen and respond.”

Following the reinstatement announcement, Cephus' legal team also released a statement:

We’d like to thank the UW-Madison leadership and Chancellor Rebecca Blank for doing the right thing by giving Quintez Cephus his life back in time to pursue his academic and athletic dreams.

It’s been a year to this day that Quintez had to tell his teammates he was stepping down from the team to face criminal charges.

We argued vociferously for that entire year that he was being punished for a crime he did not commit, so we’re grateful that UW leaders looked at all the facts, respected the decision of a court of law, and re-admitted him to UW-Madison.



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