State Lawmakers Offer Support To Regents' Investigation Into U. Iowa Assault

This story was written by Rachel Goodell, The Daily Iowan

Iowa lawmakers offered assistance and commended the state Board of Regents for reopening an investigation into the University of Iowa's handling of the alleged sexual assault in Hillcrest in a letter sent Thursday to the board's president, David Miles.

The legislators who signed the letter, Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, and Rep. Vicki Lensing, D-Iowa City, offered subpoena power from the Joint Government Oversight Committee should the regents have difficulty obtaining cooperation from those allegedly involved.

Courtney said he and Lensing wrote the letter because they wanted to make sure things are done properly and that the case is fully investigated.

The letter also asked Miles and his fellow regents to attend a special meeting of the committee on Sept. 19 to report on the findings of the investigation.

Regent Robert Downer said the regents plan to keep the committee informed.

UI spokesman Steve Parrott said he did not see the letter until he got home Thursday evening but said UI officials also plan to assist in the investigation.

"We'll cooperate to the fullest extent," he said.

Meanwhile, the attorney for one of the former Iowa football players accused in the reported rape filed a motion this week asking the court to grant him permission to photograph the building in which the incident reported occurred.

Alfredo Parrish, who is representing ex-Hawkeye Abe Satterfield, requested photos of the room where the alleged rape took place - N207 Hillcrest - as well as surrounding rooms and the floor's bathroom before students move into the dorm for the UI fall session.

"The rooms should be viewed as preserved as possible," Parrish wrote.

In the motion, Parrish said the alleged victim voluntarily entered Hillcrest on Oct. 14, 2007, where she attempted to find a room to "hang out" in with Satterfield.

Parrish wrote that she eventually voluntarily entered the room where the two mutually agreed upon to "hang out."

The counselor needs to "understand where all the rooms are in relationship to each other and how the rooms are accessed," the motion said.

Parrish also questioned whether the woman used a men's restroom in the dorm at one point in the night.

A hearing on the motion was set for Aug. 13 at 2:30 p.m.

Satterfield was charged with second- and third-degree sexual abuse in May. Former Hawkeye football player Cedric Everson was also charged that month with second-degree sexual abuse.

The woman accused Satterfield of raping her in Hillcrest last year, and witnesses in case allege that Everson admitted to also having sex with her that night, while she was incapacitated.

Both of their trials are set for Nov. 3.