University denies sex party allegations
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BOULDER, Colorado (Reuters) -- The president of the University of Colorado denied Saturday the school enticed football recruits with sex and said she was "deeply offended" by claims from the local district attorney that the university looked the other way when the accusations first surfaced.
Responding to the growing public controversy over the university's athletic program, Elizabeth Hoffman said the school was a safe environment for students and administrators had instituted strict policies on sexual misconduct for its student-athletes.
"As a woman and the president of this university, I am deeply offended that anyone would suggest we have not been investigating this incident thoroughly and completely," Hoffman told a news conference.
She was accompanied at the news conference by football coach Gary Barnett and university regent Peter Steinhauer.
Three women who say they were raped at or just after a 2001 recruitment party have sued the university in federal court, saying women at the school endured an environment of discrimination, which would violate a federal law against discriminatory practices at schools that receive federal money.
University officials have publicly denied all the accusations made by the three woman.
The controversy erupted this week when Boulder County District Attorney Mary Keenan's deposition from the civil lawsuits was leaked to Denver news media outlets. In the deposition, Keenan said she had warned the school's athletic department about using women to lure football recruits, but that she was ignored.
Hoffman said she would ask the university's board of regents next week to investigate all of the athletic department's recruiting policies as well as its sexual harassment and alcohol education programs.
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