PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- One of the three former Duke lacrosse
players cleared of rape charges earlier this year announced Tuesday
he will attend Brown University in the fall and play lacrosse for
the Bears.
I appreciate the support and loyalty of my teammates and
coaches at Duke. I will miss them. I know that
they will understand why I cannot return to Duke.
Reade Seligmann
"I hope to make them proud of accepting me as a student,"
Reade Seligmann said in a statement provided to The Associated
Press by his attorney, Jim Cooney. "I am looking forward to just
being a student again."
Brown confirmed in a brief statement that Seligmann was expected
on campus this fall. Lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany declined to
comment.
Seligmann, who was a sophomore, was indicted, along with fellow
players Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans, on charges of rape,
kidnapping and sexual offense. A woman had told police she was
attacked by three men at a March 2006 lacrosse team party where she
was hired to perform as a stripper.
The season was canceled, and Seligmann and Finnerty, both
sophomores, were suspended. Evans graduated the day before he was
indicted.
The rape charges were dropped in December, and North Carolina
Attorney General Roy Cooper declared the trio innocent while
dropping the remaining charges last month.
Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, who led the
investigation before turning it over to state prosecutors, goes on
trial next month for ethics violations connected to his handling of
the case.
Seligmann and Finnerty were invited back to Duke. Finnerty
remains undecided.
Seligmann's announcement came a day after the Blue Devils lost
to Johns Hopkins 12-11 in the NCAA championship game in Baltimore.
"I appreciate the support and loyalty of my teammates and
coaches at Duke," Seligmann said. "I will miss them. I know that
they will understand why I cannot return to Duke."