Daily Lobo new mexico
friday February 20, 2015 | Vo l u m e 1 1 9 | I s s u e 1 0 7
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
Lawsuit: UNM botched rape case
A timeline of events in the course of the investigation of sexual assault involving three UNM students
Police get warrant and obtain DNA test from SaQwan Edwards
George Bleus, attorney for Ruff, Gongbay and Edwards, released three video clips that contradicted plaintiff’s story; nine other videos were not released
Unknown Nov. 29
Feb. 19
Sept. 15 Aug. 28
July 1 OEO meets with Gongbay and Edwards for the first time
OEO denies plaintiff’s appeal
Plaintiff files an appeal with the OEO
Aug. 12
May 13 May 3 The scene of alleged rape, a BMW, is located
Charges put on hold
June 26
OEO acknowledges plaintiff’s investigation request and said it will be launched soon
April 29 April 25
April 22
April 21 April 12-13 Alleged sexual assault occurs
Gongbay released from jail after making bond; Ryan Ruff arrested after turning himself in to police
SaQwan Edwards arrested after turning himself in to police
June 24
Plaintiff requests that UNM’s Office of Equal Opportunity launch an investigation
April 23
Crusoe Gongbay arrested and suspended from team after turning himself in to police
DA announces charges dismissed against all three without prejudice; Edwards and Gongbay reinstated to football team; OEO informs Gongbay and Edwards of the investigation’s preliminary no-cause findings
OEO notifies plaintiff of its preliminary findings of no cause
Edwards and Gongbay play their final game for UNM
Source Key: Court Documents Lawsuit
Compiled by Liam Cary-Eaves Graphic by Catherine Farmer
By Thomas Romero-Salas A former UNM student who alleged that two New Mexico football players and a third man raped her last April filed a
Plaintiff sues UNM under Title IX
UNM
lawsuit on Thursday against the University, alleging violations of Title IX regulations. The lawsuit states it is “arising out of alleged willful indifference of UNM in the manner in which it
responded, or failed to respond, to her report of a gang rape on and near campus committed by UNM football players.” Crusoe Gongbay and SaQwan Edwards, who were UNM football
players at the time, as well as CNM student Ryan Ruff were arrested on charges of rape, which was alleged to have occurred in Ruff’s BMW. The charges against the three were dropped on Aug. 12.
The plaintiff has alleged that she was slipped a date rape drug late on the night of April 12, 2014, lost consciousness and suffered memory loss of nearly four hours.
see
Lawsuit page 2
ASUNM puts Columbus Day decision on hold By David Lynch
Several impassioned students voiced their anger during Wednesday’s Associated Students of UNM meeting over the tabling of a resolution that would have encouraged the University to no longer recognize Columbus Day, and instead celebrate Native American resistance to colonization by the explorer. Emotions flared during the portion of the meeting devoted to comments from the packed gallery. Several students and some community members expressed their disappointment
at the student governing body, hurling remarks such as “racist,” “evil” and “ignorant” at the senators and urging them to “change the damn name” of the federal holiday. Although members of the KIVA Club, which promotes Native American issues and identity, and other organizations criticized the student governing body for being ignorant, the backlash may have fueled by misunderstanding. The resolution, authored primarily by the KIVA Club, was introduced to ASUNM’s Outreach and Appointments
committee last week, but Sen. Kyle Stepp said the committee didn’t feel comfortable passing it on to the senate because only one of the authors was present. “We didn’t oppose it,” Stepp said. “We tabled it so that we can fix it.” All resolutions are first presented to the Outreach and Appointments committee. If passed, they go on to be discussed and voted on by the full senate. Stepp said much deliberation was had at the committee meeting over the resolution to make
see
ASUNM page 3
Kanan MammadLi / Daily Lobo / @KenanMammadly
Sen. Representative Udell Calzadillas Chavez, left, and Stephanie Everett discuss a resolution that would support UNM removing Columbus Day from UNM Calendars on Wednesday’s ASUNM meeting in the SUB. KIVA Club criticized ASUNM for being ignorant about the issue.
Campus group celebrates gun rights By Marielle Dent
Nick Fojud / Daily Lobo
Ryan Boyle and Josh C’de Baca, members of the UNM Young Americans for Freedom group, speak with a student about gun rights on Thursday. UNM Young Americans for Freedom rallied outside of Zimmerman Library while offering flyers that included gun facts and plastic squirt guns.
UNM’s Young Americans for Freedom rallied on Thursday to celebrate the recent failure of state legislation that would limit citizens’ access to firearms. The group also educated students on gun rights laws with the hope of gaining support for its organization. The Firearm Transfer Act, or House Bill 44, would have criminalized non-dealer firearm transfers at gun shows, according to the New Mexico Legislature website. The so-called “gun show loophole” currently allows any person to buy a gun from a private seller without undergoing a background check or being subject to other regulations. The bill was tabled and never
reached the House floor for a vote. At the rally UNMYAF addressed the issues of gun-free zones, concealed- and open-carry laws and the right to use firearms to protect oneself, one’s family or home. “We want to talk about this because we are on a gun-free zone,” said Ryan Boyle, president of UNMYAF. “We talk about Sandy Hook and Columbine: these were gun-free zones and a shooting happened on them. If someone wants to bring a gun onto campus, they’re not going to follow those laws. We want to make sure we have the ability to protect ourselves in the classroom.” UNMYAF was previously called
see
Guns page 2