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University of Florida releases statement on Antonio Callaway case
By Jason Hall
Published:
The University of Florida released a statement in response to bias accusations in Antonio Callaway’s sexual assault case:
“The University of Florida is prohibited to comment on the existence or substance of student disciplinary matters under state and federal law.
“However, I can tell you that our student conduct process may be handled by a hearing officer, who could be a university employee or an outside professional, or by a committee of faculty and students.
“Any hearing officer and all committee members are trained and vetted for their impartiality. A hearing officer or committee member would not be disqualified or lack objectivity simply because he or she had been a student athlete decades earlier or purchases athletic tickets as more than 90,000 people do each year.”
The University of Florida notified the complaint’s attorney, John Clune, Friday that a third party, Jacksonville attorney and Gators booster Jake Schickel, would preside over the hearing. Schickel has donated at least $6,800 to UF’s athletic department, which includes thousands for the football program, the Times reported based on the Gators Boosters’ 2014-15 athletic year-in-review document.
Clune told ESPN that his client will boycott the Title IX hearing and accused Schickel’s ties to the program as a conflict of interest given Callaway’s status on the team. The sophomore led the Gators with 678 yards and four touchdowns on 35 receptions in 2015.
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
