Women say documents show CU knew of prior allegations
Two women trying to revive their lawsuit against the University of Colorado over alleged sexual assaults by football players or recruits claim newly court-ordered released documents show CU officials knew about prior allegations, according to a document filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday.
In September, a federal judge ordered attorneys for the university to turn over the transcript of an interview by a CU campus police officer of a former student athletic trainer, who claims she was sexually assaulted by a football player.
Plaintiffs Lisa Simpson and another woman, who has declined to be identified, claim the interview with the student trainer is new evidence that university officials knew about sexual harassment within the football program.
CU attorney Larry Pozner called the assertions in the court document “wild speculation” that lacked any relevance to the case.
U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn dismissed the case in March, saying the women failed to prove the school had actual knowledge of sexual harassment of female students by football players and recruits. He also said they didn’t show the school was deliberately indifferent to any known sexual harassment.
The judge has not yet ruled on a request from the women’s attorneys to reconsider his decision in light of new evidence.
Simpson and the other woman claim in the court filing that the sealed interview with the student trainer reveals university counsel, former president Elizabeth Hoffman and other CU officials were aware of other incidents involving sexual-assault allegations.
Sketch released of man killed in robbery
Authorities released a sketch of a man killed during a home-invasion robbery in the mountains near Boulder on Monday night.
The man, described as being in his late 20s or early 30s, did not have any identifying documents with him when he pounded on the front door of a house on Poorman Road, 3 miles west of Boulder.
The muscular man, who weighed about 175 pounds, entered the home of independent movie producer Becci Starr and her husband, Scott Mattes, under the guise that he was a Boulder police officer.
Starr struck the man with a baseball bat, and Mattes wrestled a knife from him and stabbed him.
Job description OK’d
in CU president hunt
The University of Colorado regents approved a job description for their search for a new president Thursday.
The university is looking for someone who can formulate budget and strategic plans, foster relationships and raise money. After more than a year of controversy at CU that led to the resignation of the previous president, the description also says the new president will be responsible for “promoting the university’s image and reputation.”
Several regents complained that they had not had enough time to read and consider the description and asked for a delay, but other regents said it had to be passed so the committee searching for a new president could continue its work. The resolution passed unanimously.
Painter’s 2nd wife
donates archives
Denver’s planned Clyfford Still Museum will receive the archives of the famed abstract-expressionist painter and 400 more of his works from the estate of his second wife, Patricia, who died in August, project director Dean Sobel announced Thursday.
The gift is in addition to 750 of Still’s paintings and more than 1,400 works on paper from the artist’s estate that Patricia Still agreed in August 2004 to give to the city on the condition it build a museum to showcase them.
“The bequests from both Clyfford and Patricia Still’s respective estates, totaling roughly 950 paintings and 1,600 works on paper, comprise about 90 percent of the artist’s entire output,” Sobel said in a press statement.
Scholars have had little access to the archives, which include sketchbooks, correspondence and diaries. The material is expected to provide important insights into the artist and abstract- expressionism in general.
Mothers of slain CSU
grads to give check
Mothers of two slain Colorado State University graduates will present a $13,500 check to the university for a scholarship fund at halftime of the school’s homecoming game Saturday.
Graduates Javad Marshall- Fields and Vivian Wolfe were killed June 20 on an Aurora street.
Mothers Rhonda Fields and Christine Wolfe have hosted a variety of fundraisers for a reward fund and a scholarship for incoming freshmen that will promote academic scholarship, excellence and community service.
No arrests have been made in the double homicide. A reward fund is offering $25,000 for help that leads to an arrest. People with information are asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 720- 913-STOP (7867).
Bill protects people
cleaning up mine sites
U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar on Thursday introduced a bill that would legally protect “good Samaritans” who try to clean up metals-contaminated abandoned mining sites.
The measure by the Alamosa Democrat was backed by his Republican counterpart, Sen. Wayne Allard, a Republican from Loveland, and would shield mining companies, communities, nonprofit organizations and individuals from environmental liability if they agree to try to stem contamination.
The bill, similar in many respects to legislative efforts in previous years by U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, an Eldorado Springs Democrat, would require states to approve permits and subject sites to ongoing monitoring.
It is intended to allow work on the sites – about 150 that exist in Colorado alone – without putting the good Samaritans in jeopardy of perpetual legal liability, as happens now.
Bail set at $15,000
for ex-NFL player
A federal magistrate judge set bail Thursday at $15,000 for former NFL standout Timmy Smith, 41, who faces cocaine-distribution charges. Smith is accused of working with his brother, Christopher Smith, in selling cocaine to an informant eight times since April, according to a federal arrest affidavit.
During the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Coan said Smith had previously failed to appear in Aurora municipal court for an open-container charge and had a prior felony drug conviction. Smith, of Denver, was a Washington Redskins player when he helped defeat the Denver Broncos in the 1988 Super Bowl.
William Hood, a lawyer, said Smith’s family was in the process of posting bond.
