Athlete Convicted of Rape Can Play in Football Game Despite University ’s Objection

(YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio) — A federal appeals court on Friday declined a university’s request to stop one of its football players convicted of rape as a teenager from playing on the team. The ruling means Ma’lik Richmond, 21, will be allowed to play for Youngstown State University in a game against Central Connecticut State University on Saturday. Youngstown State had asked the appeals court to throw out a Thursday night decision by U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson to temporarily allow Richmond to play football for Youngstown State for at least the next 14 days, including in the 2 p.m. game Saturday. Pearson scheduled a hearing Sept. 28 on whether to make the decision permanent. Youngstown State appealed the decision Friday morning to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the appeals court dismissed it Friday afternoon. Richmond, of Steubenville, sued Youngstown State this week after the school allowed him to join the football team as a walk-on and then told him he couldn’t play this season. Richmond is seeking reinstatement to the team’s active roster along with attorney fees and an unspecified amount of damages. The university argued in its appeal that the school has a right to stop Richmond from playing to prevent campus protests and disruptions to the team. “It is beyond harm to the University to have this temporary restraining order enforced,” the university said. The appeals court, however, said Youngstown State failed to show ...
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