UM president talks about former student athlete’s death

University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe addressed the media today following days of scrutiny over a national report that was critical of the MU campus’ handling of a former student athlete’s death and possible sexual assault.

Wolfe released a statement Sunday following an ESPN broadcast about Sasha Menu Courey. The report detailed the former swimmer’s suicide and questioned whether the university did enough to pursue allegations that she was raped about a year before her death.

Wolfe, today, renewed his call for an independent investigator to look at the specifics of Menu Courey’s case and for campus leaders to take the lead in keeping students safe.

Wolfe pledged university system money to help implement any changes the independent investigator might suggest in the handling of sexual assaults. He refused several times to comment about specifics of the Menu Courey case citing the ongoing criminal investigation. MU campus officials turned over information to Columbia police on Saturday.

Wolfe’s comments came right before the start of a scheduled University of Missouri Board of Curators meeting. The curators will vote on the independent investigator and should make an announcement on the hiring today.