CLEARED: ‘My 6 Mo. TitleIX Investigation is Over. I was Presumed Guilty & Then Had to Prove my Innocence’
Former Missouri point guard Terrence Phillips tweeted Thursday night that the university’s Title IX investigation into him has concluded and said he was cleared of three of the four complaints made against him. Phillips previously said, “There are two sides to every story. Some people really want to say, ‘Me too,’ because apparently it’s the cool thing to do. I have a side. I am cooperating with Mizzou like I was instructed. Unfortunately, I can’t say a lot, but at the end of the investigation, I intend to be cleared from the accusations. People who know me know this isn’t me.” The university opened a Title IX investigation in January, prompting Phillips’ indefinite suspension from the basketball team. The next month, he was dismissed from the Mizzou basketball program, and he lost his college scholarship. Phillips did not participate in any team activities, including practices, while he was indefinitely suspended. Phillips said that the experience had taken a mental toll on him. MU coach Cuonzo Martin kept in contact with Phillips during the suspension because the 5-foot-11 guard from California is “somebody’s son. It is my job to make sure he’s OK.” Last week, Phillips tweeted, “Today, I can finally speak – Today, the Title IX investigation I’ve been undergoing for the last 6 months is finally over. Today, I can finally say that I was found not responsible of the allegations against me of sexual misconduct, rape, exploitation, and stalking.” Phillips said that the experience had taken a mental toll on him. He said he had applied to another school. “I applied to a school just to be a normal student. I don’t know if I can take going on the court, and having the student section call me a rapist, even though I’ve been cleared. I don’t know if I can deal with that.”
kansascity.com By Bergen & Reiss columbiamissourian.com By Pope
