Former CU Student sues university over expulsion related to stabbing of football player; Ash House residents can stay for now

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    Untitled Jackie Sedley

Former CU student sues university over expulsion related to stabbing of football player

A former University of Colorado student is suing CU Boulder, alleging that her expulsion after accidentally stabbing a football player was biased and violated her rights.

The lawsuit – filed Thursday by “Jane Roe” in the U.S. District Court of Colorado – alleges that the Buffaloes’ coaching staff pressured a player she was dating to file an inaccurate police report after she accidentally stabbed him. She argues they did so to protect the integrity of the football program.

According to the suit, Roe and the football player – identified as “John Doe” – were at Doe’s off-campus apartment when he threatened to cut up her purse. Roe felt threatened and picked up a small paring knife, at which point Doe “accidentally leaned into the knife” and was cut, according to the lawsuit.

Both Roe and Doe are Black, and were concerned about police involvement according to The Denver Post. They went to the hospital and agreed the incident was an accident. Doe, at first, refused to talk with Boulder police when they got to the hospital. The lawsuit alleges CU football coaches and staff scared Doe into making a report, by saying Roe could later make a claim against him.

Roe was arrested a few days after the incident, charged with first-degree assault, felony menacing, and obstruction of telephone service with a domestic violence enhancer. She was later expelled related to allegations of “dating violence.”

The lawsuit claims that CU’s investigation into the 2022 incident was biased and unfair, and violated her Title IX, due process, and civil rights.

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Ash House residents can stay for now

A Boulder District Court judge has ruled that the students who live in Ash House – a private, off-campus student apartment building on University Hill – are allowed to keep living there for now.

The Friday ruling comes after city officials ordered residents to vacate immediately earlier last week, due to safety concerns. Around 60 students were kicked out of their homes and left with nowhere to go.

Almost immediately, owners of Ash House sued the city. In a statement, they called the city’s decision to force students from housing with little notice an “unprecedented and reckless maneuver.”

The city also publicly responded, expressing their disappointment in the court’s ruling and reiterating their worry about the building’s “life-safety” violations.

The next hearing for the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. on October 8 at the Boulder County District Court. In the meantime, the property owner and city have agreed to spend the next handful of weeks working to bring the property into compliance with city code. That’s according to The Daily Camera.

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King Soopers trial final verdict rests in jury’s hands 

The fate of the man who shot and killed 10 people inside a Boulder King Soopers officially rests in the hands of the jury.

Prosecutors seeking to convict 25-year-old Ahmad Alissa made their closing arguments Friday, reminding jurors of the planning and research that Alissa did before opening fire in March 2021.

Defense attorneys stood with their arguments that Alissa was delusional and psychotic at the time of the shooting.

Jurors will decide if they believe Alissa was able to understand right from wrong – and therefore act with intent – when he conducted the mass shooting.

If Alissa is found guilty of a single first-degree murder charge, he will be sentenced to prison without the possibility of parole. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, Alissa will be sentenced to the Colorado state hospital until he is “restored,” according to The Colorado Sun.

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Colorado to give schools up to $50,000 to cut cell phone use

The “Smartphone Challenge Initiative,” introduced Friday by State Attorney General Phil Weiser, is funded through the state’s settlement with e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs Inc. The state received nearly $32 million from that lawsuit.

The Denver Post reports that the grants will go out in early 2025, and that officials haven’t yet decided how many grants will be awarded.

The initiative is the second school district grant program aimed at improving student mental health through funding from Juul settlement dollars.

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Boulder City Council moves forward with Iris Avenue revamp

Boulder City Council has chosen to move forward with the Iris Avenue safety redesign.

Council opted not to call on an alternate proposed redesign last Thursday, meaning the current proposal will move into the final design and construction phase.

The estimated $5 million plan would reduce Iris Avenue from four lanes to three, with a center turning lane. It would also add a 10-foot-wide, two-way bike lane on the north side of the street stretching from Folsom to Broadway — separated by a vertical barrier from traffic.

Transportation advocates and cyclists have long supported adding the protected bike lane to Iris. Currently, there’s only a painted line separating cyclists from vehicles.

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Jackie Sedley

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