Amid accusations that members of his team raped an exotic dancer March 13, men's lacrosse head coach Mike Pressler has resigned effective immediately, President Richard Brodhead announced Wednesday. In addition, Brodhead has cancelled the men's lacrosse season and all associated activities.
Also Wednesday, police released previously sealed documents related to the case, including a second search warrant and an e-mail from one of the lacrosse players that seemed to threaten further violence against exotic dancers.
The e-mail originated from sophomore lacrosse player Ryan McFadyen's account and was signed "41," which is McFadyen's jersey number.
"tommrow night, after tonights show, ive decided to have some strippers over to edens 2c," the e-mail said, noting there would be no nudity. "i plan on killing the bitches as soon as [they] walk in and proceding to cut their skin off while cumming in my duke issue spandex."
The Durham Police Department is investigating the team after allegations that three players raped, choked and sodomized a black woman hired to dance at a March 13 party. The captains of the team "unequivocally" denied the sexual assault and rape allegations in a statement March 28.
Brodhead said he found Pressler's resignation "highly appropriate."
Athletic Director Joe Alleva said in a separate statement that he accepted Pressler's resignation Wednesday afternoon.
"I believe this is in the best interests of the program, the department of athletics and the University," Alleva said.
Pressler did not return several phone calls requesting comment. Friends gathered at Pressler's house Wednesday night to support him, a neighbor and friend confirmed.
The e-mail released by police Wednesday was sent 1:58 a.m. March 14, only a few hours after the party at which the rape allegedly took place and minutes after the alleged victim called 911 at 1:22 a.m.
Several members of the lacrosse team declined to comment when asked if the e-mail was written as a joke.
McFadyen received an interim suspension, pending a University investigation, and is no longer on campus, according to a University statement. John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations, said Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta has the power to place a student on interim suspension "if in his judgment that person has placed him- or herself or others in danger."
Brodhead said he found the e-mail "sickening."
"Maybe it was in a joking nature, but in the context we find ourselves in, I don't find it funny," he said.
James Ammons, North Carolina Central University chancellor, called the e-mail disturbing in a statement Wednesday.
"It is important that our students and supporters remain calm in light of this information being released," he said. "We do not want anyone from the NCCU family to seek retribution or take matters into their own hands."
Joe Cheshire, a lawyer representing at least one member of the team, said if a rape had occurred, McFadyen would have sent a letter telling the team to be quiet, not threatening harm to other women.
"When people do something bad, they wouldn't be writing e-mails about it," Cheshire said, adding that the police have several more e-mails from other members of the team.
The e-mail from McFadyen's account was in a previously sealed search warrant for the sophomore's Edens 2C Dormitory residence and vehicle. The warrant was processed March 27 and 28. The police seized a poster, $40 in two $20 bills, a laptop, disposable camera and handwritten papers and drawings, among other items.
University officials have restricted access to Edens 2C to residents only.
DPD is investigating the lacrosse team for forcible rape, kidnapping, forcible sexual offense, common law robbery, felonious strangulation and conspiracy to commit murder. No charges have been filed, and state officials are awaiting DNA test results from samples taken from 46 members of the team that are expected sometime this week.
Brodhead condemned the actions of the team, if they turn out to be true. "It seems to me there might be some part of Duke education that is not yet fully successful," he said. "It's not in the statistics, it's not in the writing, but it's in a life skill."
The search warrant released Wednesday provided more details about the March 13 party at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd.
The alleged victim, a 27-year-old student at NCCU, reported that the men became "excited and aggressive" after she and a second woman began dancing at the party.
After both women left the residence, one of the suspects apologized and requested that they continue dancing. The women were separated when they went back inside.
Three men allegedly pulled the victim into a bathroom and sexually assaulted her anally, vaginally and orally for approximately 30 minutes.
The alleged victim said the players told her they were members of the Duke baseball and track team to hide their true affiliations. The warrant states that one senior team captain, a resident of 610 N. Buchanan Blvd., admitted using an alias to make reservations for the dancers to attend the party.
According to the search warrant, the alleged victim was treated at Duke University Hospital Emergency Department. "Medical records and interviews obtained by a subpoena revealed the victim had signs, symptoms and injuries consistent with being raped and sexually assaulted vaginally and anally," the report stated.
Saidi Chen, Ryan McCartney and Iza Wojciechowska contributed to this story.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.