Brown President Ruth Simmons told the AP the allegations are “utter poppycock” but wouldn’t comment further.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – William McCormick III entered Brown University on a full scholarship, a wrestler from Wisconsin who expected to spend four years at an Ivy League institution known for educating generations of bright minds.
He lasted mere weeks.
In September 2006, he was accused of stalking, harassing and ultimately raping a female acquaintance – allegations he denies. The accuser was a legacy student who, when first reporting trouble, mentioned her father was an "alum and a big supporter of Brown."
The day after the rape allegations, McCormick was barred from campus and flown home pending a disciplinary hearing.
The following month, he was gone for good.
He signed a contract – under pressure, he says, from the accuser’s lawyer – in which he agreed to leave Brown. In exchange, the accuser dropped the matter.
A Brown administrator told him his transcript would reflect that he had withdrawn for "medical reasons" but said he was ineligible for readmission, even though he had never been found responsible of rape. McCormick transferred to Bucknell University, where he remains.
Brown allowed the matter to be closed through a confidential contract instead of a fact-finding disciplinary hearing that could have absolved McCormick or established that an assault had occurred. Brown President Ruth Simmons told the AP the allegations are "utter poppycock" but wouldn’t comment further.
A judge dismissed some counts, but left in claims of breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence against Brown.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press.
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