Editor’s Note: A previous print version of this article incorrectly stated that Altman said that Oregon “felt (Austin’s violation at Providence College) was something of a serious nature.”
January 6, 2014 Brandon Austin transfers to Oregon from Providence College in Rhode Island midway through the basketball season. Austin had been suspended indefinitely from the school basketball team due to an undisclosed violation of student conduct code. Head coach Dana Altman discussed the allegations with the Providence coaches and and Oregon “felt this was not something of a serious nature.”
March 7, 2014 Survivor and her friend meet Oregon men’s basketball guard Joseph Young. The survivor recognizes Young from the basketball team and the two exchange numbers.
March 8, 2014 Ducks end their regular season with a 54-67 win against No. 3 Arizona.
March 9, 2014 Dotson, Austin and Artis allegedly assault a female at Johnathan Loyd’s house and Dotson and Artis’ apartment. The incident occurs between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m.
March 9, 2014 The University of Oregon learns of the alleged incident from the survivor’s father.
March 12 March Madness begins with Oregon vs. Oregon State in Las Vegas. Dotson and Artis each play for 23 minutes. Dotson scores 5 points. Artis scores 10 points and has six assists. Oregon wins 88-74.
March 13, 2014 Oregon plays UCLA in Las Vegas. Dotson plays for 24 minutes and Artis plays for 22. Dotson scores 4 points and has one assist. Artis scores 5 points and has 2 assists and 2 rebounds. Oregon loses 63-72.
March 14, 2014 Survivor contacts Eugene Police Department about the alleged incident.
March 18, 2014 The Wall Street Journal reports that Brandon Austin was suspended from Providence College basketball games due to allegations of sexual assault.
March 20, 2014 Oregon vs. BYU in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dotson plays for 21 minutes and Artis plays for 11 minutes. Dotson scores 4 points and has 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Artis scores 3 points and has 1 assist and 1 rebound. Oregon wins 87-68.
March 22, 2014 Oregon plays Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dotson plays for 19 minutes. Artis plays for 7 minutes. Dotson scores 5 points and has 5 rebounds. Artis has 2 points and 1 assist and 1 rebound. Oregon loses 77-85.
April 3, 2014 Michael Gottfredson releases a statement saying that the university is renewing its commitment to preventing sexual violence. The statement’s release coincides with the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness month.
April 14, 2014 District Attorney declines to pursue the case because “the conflicting statements and actions by the victim make this case unprovable as a criminal case.”
April 24, 2014 University of Oregon receives police report.
May 1, 2014 Board of Trustees alerted by Chairman Charles Lillis that three basketball players were in trouble and to expect media attention.
May 5, 2014 Athletic Department releases statement that Dotson, Austin and Artis have been suspended from the basketball team.
May 5, 2014 Police report on incident released to public.
May 5, 2014 Michael Gottfredson releases statement saying, “We are deeply concerned about information contained in the police report recently released by the Eugene Police Department … The university takes allegations of misconduct very seriously.” A secondary statement is released the following morning.
May 6, 2014 Robin Holmes and Rob Mullens release a statement that university administrators began investigating immediately, but that law enforcement agencies often request a delay on action in order to avoid interference in open cases.
May 6, 2014 DA releases statement, saying that in evaluating the case”the focus was on evidence of consent or the inability to consent. In making the initial determination we evaluated the presumption of innocence and the State’s burden of proof.”
Here’s what happened: The sequence of events leading up to the district attorney’s dismissal of the alleged case against Dotson, Artis and Austin
Samantha Matsumoto
May 7, 2014
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