University of Iowa Still Ranked as No. 2 Party School

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – A Chicago law firm hired by the University of Illinois to investigate allegations of racially motivated mistreatment made by former women’s basketball players concluded in a report released Monday that those charges are unfounded.

SEC members Ole Miss and the University of Florida also are on the party school list but didn’t rank in the top 10. She said the campus will implement its recommendations as quickly as possible.

An attorney for the players didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

“My initial reaction is that I am not surprised that investigators, selected by the university and paid by the university would issue a report favorable to their client”, he said.

“This is precisely why we did not wait until the conclusion of the university-funded investigation to be completed before we file suit”, Ekl said.

Seven former players sued the university, coach Matt Bollant, athletic director Mike Thomas and others on July 1.

The school is conducting separate investigations into allegations that injuries weren’t properly handled by the women’s basketball program’s trainers, and into the behavior of Illini football coach Tim Beckman, which has come under fire from former players.

The report also found that extra practices were designated for players that did not play more than 20 minutes in the previous game and that room assignment while on the road often mixed races.

The report acknowledged that Divilbiss “treated players harshly in a number of incidents”, but found no evidence of him treating players differently due to their race.

The investigation did find that Divilbiss relied on racial stereotypes.

He would refer to a “fancy” pass or move on the court as “ghetto”, according to the report. There was also one allegation of “sexual inappropriateness” against Divilbiss. Concerns by graduating players were raised about Divilbiss’ style in exit interviews following the 2013-14 season.

The University of Illinois is No. 1 in the new party school rankings, and administrators aren’t happy about it. An Illinois spokesman says the ranking paints the university’s students in a false light.

Wise said the university is invested in creating an environment where athletes feel comfortable quickly reporting anything that makes them feel “uncomfortable”. “We can never have too many ways to help connect them with support”.

An investigation by a different law firm into those allegations continues.