Von Pearson Update

#2,526
#2,526
TCbodybuilder said:
False.

If the off-campus misconduct was not in the context of a school activity or program, UT must still determine whether the effects of the misconduct created a hostile environment on campus for the victim. If the off-campus sexual violence created or contributed to a hostile environment, the school must address that hostile environment in the same manner in which it would if the misconduct occurred on-campus under Title IX.

UT must also also take steps to protect the student from further harassment/violence by the Von and his friends. UT is also bound by Title IX to treat off-campus sexual violence in the same way it handles other off-campus incidents of misconduct if it is entailed within their code of conduct policies.

Hope fully the administrators handled the situation properly in the required time period so it doesn't blow up into a tornado.
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Which is kind of weird right? Two students, Mike Williams and AJ Johnson are charged, indicted.and allowed to graduate in the case of AJ or allowed to be enrolled like Mike Williams...then there is Pearson, not formally charged but suspended from class while still on the roster. As Deer Park suggests, that seems unusual.
 
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#2,527
#2,527
vol66 said:
Which is kind of weird right? Two students, Mike Williams and AJ Johnson are charged, indicted.and allowed to graduate in the case of AJ or allowed to be enrolled like Mike Williams...then there is Pearson, not formally charged but suspended from class while still on the roster. As Deer Park suggests, that seems unusual.
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Yes, unusual. Though Von may be suspended from campus to satisfy Title IX hostile environment issues due to the alleged victim still being an enrolled student (though I do not know if she is). Williams could theoretically be allowed on campus (I don't know UT's student code of conduct policy regarding indictments etc.) if the victim is no longer enrolled or was never a student (I don't remember the details).

This is strictly an opinionated guess, but I assume UT is waiting on the police investigation (not their Title IX --- which should be completed or at least ongoing if the admins didn't drop the ball) to conclude. One problem facing UT is that *if* Von did in fact commit rape, that one time incident is sufficient enough to qualify as a hostile environment for the victim. I think that may be part of UT's reluctance (especially due to the Feds).

Normally, the OCR prefers the investigation (by the university) to last 60 days or less. I suspect due to how long this is dragged out is because UT is waiting on the DA. I certainly have no insider sources or knowledge of specific UT policies so just my humble opinion at the moment.
 
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#2,528
#2,528
TCbodybuilder said:
This is strictly an opinionated guess, but I assume UT is waiting on the police investigation (not their Title IX --- which should be completed or at least ongoing if the admins didn't drop the ball) to conclude. One problem facing UT is that *if* Von did in fact commit rape, that one time incident is sufficient enough to qualify as a hostile environment for the victim. I think that may be part of UT's reluctance (especially due to the Feds).

Normally, the OCR prefers the investigation (by the university) to last 60 days or less. I suspect due to how long this is dragged out is because UT is waiting on the DA. I certainly have no insider sources or knowledge of specific UT policies so just my humble opinion at the moment.
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Fair enough, but I have the one question still. In what way can you square in your mind that AJ and Williams are set to stand trial and Pearson has yet to be charged with a crime, is still on the roster at UTsports.com, and is considered to be a threat to campus that in some way AJ and MW were not?
 
#2,529
#2,529
vol66 said:
Fair enough, but I have the one question still. In what way can you square in your mind that AJ and Williams are set to stand trial and Pearson has yet to be charged with a crime, is still on the roster at UTsports.com, and is considered to be a threat to campus that in some way AJ and MW were not?
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See my edited post above. Honestly, I'm not sure but I could see it being a situation like what I listed. When something odd like that occurs regarding the MW situation, there are a lot of policies used and administrative decisions for what the university thinks is appropriate action.
 
#2,530
#2,530
I wish Butch would stand up and say:

It is incomprehensible that, in a free society, our authorities allow a citizen like Von Pearson to twist in the wind. Our Constitution guarantees that a citizen is innocent until proven guilty; however, though not proven guilty, Von Pearson has been punished severely. He has not been allowed to attend the university of his choice. He has not been allowed to play the sport of his choice. These are liberties that are quite correctly taken from guilty men; however, it is unconscionable that they have beenb taken away from an innocent man. Indeed, Von Pearson is as far away from being guilty as is possible. As he has not yet been charged, he is no more guilty than you or me. He is, indeed, no more guilty than I am. If the same standard were to be applied to me, i could not coach the University of Tennessee as I, like Von, am innocent of any crime.

Thus, as an innocent man, Von Pearson is back with his team. We welcome him, an innocent man, with open arms. Good day.
 
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#2,531
#2,531
TCbodybuilder said:
See my edited post above. Honestly, I'm not sure but I could see it being a situation like what I listed. When something odd like that occurs regarding the MW situation, there are a lot of policies used and administrative decisions for what the university thinks is appropriate action.
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I appreciate your thoughts and you may have a point on the federal investigation, but as far as Williams is concerned it is really hard to square how he still goes to class. I mean what University policies allow for a guy dismissed from the football program, charged with two counts of aggravated rape, to still attend class?
 
#2,532
#2,532
Not only is Von not playing this year but he's not even allowed at school. He "might" be able to enroll again in January.

Wow!

I hope his accuser enjoys the very heavy dose of Karma coming her way.
 
#2,533
#2,533
vol66 said:
I appreciate your thoughts and you may have a point on the federal investigation, but as far as Williams is concerned it is really hard to square how he still goes to class. I mean what University policies allow for a guy dismissed from the football program, charged with two counts of aggravated rape, to still attend class?
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100% agree. In my experience, I have seen students thrown out for a variety of things from severe to rowdy (normal) college behavior so I truly don't know with the MW thing.
 
#2,535
#2,535
Aesius said:
If the information reported by Hubbs and others is correct and that the DA has new evidence to review, then this should be over sometime this week. The next question is whether the university will be too chicken **** to reinstate him even if he's cleared due to fears that the feds will get suspicious of the timing of his reinstatement. It sounds far-fetched but I would imagine the AD and the admins are walking on eggshells right now due to the university being part of the sexual assault investigations and it might be worth it to just keep him in limbo to avoid additional scrutiny.
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If this happens, I think that Butch, and even Hart, would have to strongly go to bat for Von with UT Administration.
Otherwise, they would lose a lot of respect from other team members.
Unless, and this is a big UNLESS, Butch is so upset with whatever Von might have done even if it did not rise to the level of a prosecutable crime by the DA.
 
#2,536
#2,536
vol66 said:
UT has

Based on that article it would appear both Williams and Pearson were both not going to be allowed to enroll.

The article also mentions the student directory which I googled. I typed in Pearson's full name from his bio and nothing shows up. I did the same for Williams. He is listed as "active".

https://directory.utk.edu/search
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Maybe, but that article was from June 1st, so maybe some things have changed. At this point it is all wait and see.
 
#2,537
#2,537
I was raised to trust authority and it's process. I think our country would be better off of all were raised that way.

I choose to take the side(authority) of what is correct a large majority of the time. If the authority in this case isn't ready to clear this kid and let him back on the playing field I respect that. The small chance they are acting inappropriately and sinister isn't worth that risk of putting a rapist on the field in our uniform IMO.
 
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#2,538
#2,538
Voltillyafall said:
I wish Butch would stand up and say:

It is incomprehensible that, in a free society, our authorities allow a citizen like Von Pearson to twist in the wind. Our Constitution guarantees that a citizen is innocent until proven guilty; however, though not proven guilty, Von Pearson has been punished severely. He has not been allowed to attend the university of his choice. He has not been allowed to play the sport of his choice. These are liberties that are quite correctly taken from guilty men; however, it is unconscionable that they have beenb taken away from an innocent man. Indeed, Von Pearson is as far away from being guilty as is possible. As he has not yet been charged, he is no more guilty than you or me. He is, indeed, no more guilty than I am. If the same standard were to be applied to me, i could not coach the University of Tennessee as I, like Von, am innocent of any crime.

Thus, as an innocent man, Von Pearson is back with his team. We welcome him, an innocent man, with open arms. Good day.
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The constitution gaureentees us many rights, and a criminal defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty. No one has declared Von guilty of a crime. He has been suspended from the team because he violated team rules set forth by the head coach.

Just because he's not allowed on the team in no way means that he is guilty of a crime. It simply means that he hasn't followed team rules.

Please understand that playing football for UT is a privilege and not a right, and presently Von doesn't have the privilege.
 
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#2,540
#2,540
BruinVol said:
I was raised to trust authority and it's process. I think our country would be better off of all were raised that way.

I choose to take the side(authority) of what is correct a large majority of the time. If the authority in this case isn't ready to clear this kid and let him back on the playing field I respect that. The small chance they are acting inappropriately and sinister isn't worth that risk of putting a rapist on the field in our uniform IMO.
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Most people that deal with these cases have pointed out that the handling of this one has been really unusual. I don't know if I would say it has been handled "inappropriately" but unusually definitely fits the bill.

How appropriate is it for a DA to go on a two week vacation while a case like this is still sitting in limbo? I'm honestly asking because I don't know there.
 
#2,541
#2,541
DaddyChad said:
Most people that deal with these cases have pointed out that the handling of this one has been really unusual. I don't know if I would say it has been handled "inappropriately" but unusually definitely fits the bill.

How appropriate is it for a DA to go on a two week vacation while a case like this is still sitting in limbo? I'm honestly asking because I don't know there.
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Aren't there Assistant DA's that handle such things when the DA is unavailable?
 
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#2,542
#2,542
gunner said:
The constitution gaureentees us many rights, and a criminal defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty. No one has declared Von guilty of a crime. He has been suspended from the team because he violated team rules set forth by the head coach.

Just because he's not allowed on the team in no way means that he is guilty of a crime. It simply means that he hasn't followed team rules.

Please understand that playing football for UT is a privilege and not a right, and presently Von doesn't have the privilege.
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I think your statement "hasn't followed team rules" is the whole key here.
The public doesn't know, and doubtful will ever know, what these rules are.
Breaking curfew?
Associating with the wrong people?
 
#2,543
#2,543
DaddyChad said:
How appropriate is it for a DA to go on a two week vacation while a case like this is still sitting in limbo? I'm honestly asking because I don't know there.
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I have a little knowledge on this one. It's not unusual at all. Vacations are scheduled well in advance. These type of crimes happen every week it's nothing special. Just because he is a college football player doesn't change its importance. There are assistant da's there as well
 
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#2,544
#2,544
Maybe it's going as a few ppl thought. They want to keep it some what quite. (which I don't think can happen at all) so maybe they didn't want to just blurt it out in the biggest presser. Maybe they want to just throw him on the field and address the media after that. Just wishful thinking I guess. Either way the season will be great and F$&# FL!
 
#2,545
#2,545
DaddyChad said:
Most people that deal with these cases have pointed out that the handling of this one has been really unusual. I don't know if I would say it has been handled "inappropriately" but unusually definitely fits the bill.

How appropriate is it for a DA to go on a two week vacation while a case like this is still sitting in limbo? I'm honestly asking because I don't know there.
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It's very appropriate for him to go on vacation, however it is very incompetent that he and his staff did not sort this mess out in a timely manner.

6+ months is sad and the DA should either charge him or drop the charges. #stuck #limbo #incompetent.
 
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#2,546
#2,546
Actions speak louder than words. We saw it with AJ's case. You see it with VP's case.

What is the Knox County DA's actions saying? You do crimes like these two are accused of and we will slow down the legal process until your college eligibility is gone while you wait. The waiting game is played in all levels of the legal system and they are perfectly within their right to take as much time as they need to investigate. And they will.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time (time waiting on the sideline).
 
#2,547
#2,547
1982Alum said:
Actions speak louder than words. We saw it with AJ's case. You see it with VP's case.

What is the Knox County DA's actions saying? You do crimes like these two are accused of and we will slow down the legal process until your college eligibility is gone while you wait. The waiting game is played in all levels of the legal system and they are perfectly within their right to take as much time as they need to investigate. And they will.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time (time waiting on the sideline).
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Like a million ppl have said he may not have done the crime so he could possibly be "paying the time" for no reason what so ever. Taking all of his eligibility up for no reason as well. Ruining his life possibly bc they are "perfectly within their rights" if they are doing that with out knowing for sure they are just as bad as he is supposed to be. Just a bad situation
 
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#2,548
#2,548
1982Alum said:
Actions speak louder than words. We saw it with AJ's case. You see it with VP's case.

What is the Knox County DA's actions saying? You do crimes like these two are accused of and we will slow down the legal process until your college eligibility is gone while you wait. The waiting game is played in all levels of the legal system and they are perfectly within their right to take as much time as they need to investigate. And they will.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time (time waiting on the sideline).
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The assumption is pretty crappy. You are just assuming VP did something illegal.
 
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#2,549
#2,549
Sudden Impact said:
It's very appropriate for him to go on vacation, however it is very incompetent that he and his staff did not sort this mess out in a timely manner.

6+ months is sad and the DA should either charge him or drop the charges. #stuck #limbo #incompetent.
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First, the Knox County District Attorney is a female, Charme Allen. There are more than 30 assistant DAs in a department that handles thousands of cases in a year.

Second, we don't know when the KPD turned over the investigation to the DAs office or even if that has even happened yet.

The DA's office has nothing to do with it until that case file is turned over for review. If the KPD has still not turned it over, then you're attacking the wrong group. If they turned it over in the last month, you're attacking the wrong group.
 
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#2,550
#2,550
His lawyer said they had the case i thought? either way, this whole thing is a joke. But yeh his attorney actually said yesterday in an interview that the District Attorney is still reviewing it. I dont think he was attacking the wrong group, DP.
 
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