Michael Sipili, a former CU football linebacker and current ethnic studies major, is being held in the Boulder County Jail on a felony warrant alleging one count of sexual assault.
The investigation leading to 22-year-old Sipili’s arrest began on Dec. 4, when a 22-year-old female reported a sexual assault in an apartment complex near 27th Way and Moorhead Avenue, according a Boulder Police Department news release.
The incident occurred after the victim and a female friend spent the night in a bar in downtown Boulder, where they met a group of men and agreed to follow them back to the nearby residence.
The victim alleged that Sipili engaged in sexual activity with her, although she repeatedly told him “no.” Sipili turned himself in to the Boulder Police on Tuesday when he learned of the warrant for his arrest, according to the news release.
After learning of the arrest, CU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Bohn emphasized that CU will work hard to educate students about the consequences of sexual harassment in a CU news release.
“We are extremely disappointed and troubled to learn of these accusations,” Bohn said in the news release. “Our resolve to collaborate with on and off-campus partners on these issues remains steadfast, and those who do not embrace these values will face severe team and university penalties.”
Tierney Snow, an 18-year-old freshman pre-journalism major, said she thinks that Sipili’s actions should not reflect perceptions of the CU football team or the university as a whole.
“It’s his mistake, not any one else’s,” Snow said. “It’s his fault for not representing our school well.”
In the past, CU has implemented strict policies regarding sexual harassment and assault for both regular students and student-athletes.
In the past decade, there have been presentations given by guest speakers invited by former football coach Dan Hawkins. CU freshmen also attend mandatory meetings during orientation warning them of the severity of such a crime, according to the university’s news release.
Deb Coffin, CU Boulder associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, said that the university has learned difficult lessons from the past, and that any student found responsible may face penalties ranging from suspension to expulsion.
“We have put in place a slate of campus-wide policies that address sexual assault and sexual harassment,” Coffin said in the news release. “We communicate these policies to our students from their first moments on campus, and we hold them accountable to these standards during their time here.”
Freshman and 19-year-old Nicki Rosenbach, an undeclared major, said she agrees that sexual assault should be taken seriously.
“I think any athlete or student involved in something like this should be kicked off the team and suspended,” Rosenbach said.
Sipili’s bond is currently set for $100,000, according to the Boulder PD release.
As the investigation continues, the Boulder Police Department will release more information.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kelsey Krebsbach at Kelsey.krebsbach@colorado.edu.
