Erica Santiago / News Director
In an effort to fulfill its responsibility to ensure that classrooms, athletic fields and campuses are free from any form of harassment and a safe space for the community, the University issued a statement via email regarding recent news stories alleging misconduct involving a student-athlete and an employee, Friday March 4.
According to the statement, the University takes these as well as any other allegations seriously and addresses them, while ensuring fairness and due process to all involved.
External Relations released this statement three days after allegations of sexual misconduct made by Destini Feagin against women’s basketball Head Coach Marlin Chinn became public.
“Our students and our community should be aware of the key facts regarding recent news stories about alleged misconduct involving a student-athlete and an employee,” read the email.
The email continues, mentioning a criminal theft investigation that was opened by FIU Police against said student-athlete “on or about Feb. 15.”
According to a redacted incident report received by Student Media, an unknown student was involved in “Theft/Depriving The Victim Of The Right To The Property,” which was reported Monday, Feb. 15 at midnight.
Attempts to receive the full report are being made by Student Media.
“Based on information provided to the Athletic Department on February 22, the student-athlete was suspended from the women’s basketball team the following day,” the email said.
The email continued to state that it was after the student’s suspension from the team that “serious allegations” were made against an FIU employee.
“Based on the information gathered so far, head women’s basketball coach Marlin Chinn has been suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Chinn claimed the senior guard was absent from a game Saturday, Feb. 27, due to a violation of team policy.
Feagin told the Miami Herald that she had committed a violation when she used a teammate’s OneCard to buy food. Feagin’s mother, Joi Nicholson, paid off the $350 debt the following Monday.
According to the Miami Herald, Nicholson and Feagin believe that Chinn suspended Feagin, the team’s captain, from four games as punishment for resisting his sexual advances.
Student Media’s request for comments from Feagin have not yet been returned. Student Media will update this story as more information becomes available.
Additional reporting by Cayla Bush