A UB student has been arrested and suspended indefinitely from his position on the football team after he was charged with the rape of a female student.
Kevin Concepcion, a defensive back on the football team, was arrested Thursday night and charged with third-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse in connection with an alleged encounter in Lehman Hall in January, said John Grela, director of University Police.
The University Police were notified about the Jan. 22 incident by the woman's roommate, who called the police after being awoken during the night, according to the incident report.
It is The Spectrum's policy not to release the names of alleged rape victims.
According to Grela, who said the university has been working with the Erie County District Attorney's office, the case now moves into the hands of university and county courts.
"I recommended that it be reviewed," said Grela. "(Student Wide Judiciary) charges were also filed and he has to go to criminal court."
Trevor Torcello, chief justice of the SWJ, said he could not comment on specifics of the case, but that a case of this kind "would be handled the same as any other case."
The Department of Athletics released a statement in response but refused to comment further on the matter. SWJ has suspended Concepcion, a sophomore undecided major, until further notice.
According to a statement from football head coach Jim Hofher, "Kevin's status in our football program will be reevaluated."
According to Gail Dent, the associate director of the public relations department for the National Collegiate Athletics Association, situations like the alleged rape are rare in the NCAA, and Concepcion's status as a student athlete will depend entirely on the rules of the university.
"The responsibility falls on the institution on how to handle or discipline their own student athletes," Dent said.
"Students who are in that circumstance are generally considered to the university a clear and present danger and are in suspension," said Dennis Black, vice president of Student Affairs. "They are then given a hearing."
According to Black, the student is allowed to choose whether to speak before a panel of students or administrators. The panel would then impose sanctions on the student.
"We also advise the victim of the proceedings when an individual is found responsible ... and it involves a sexual misconduct," he said.
Black said under this policy, the victim of a rape is allowed to contribute to the discussion on possible sanctions for the guilty party.
Rape statistics at the university have dropped in recent years. According to University Police, in 1999, there were nine forcible sex offenses reported on campus; in 2000, there were zero; and in 2001, there was one offense reported.
