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Harris’ attorney says woman was ‘sexual aggressor’

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The attorney for suspended Florida quarterback Treon Harris released a detailed statement Thursday, saying the woman was the “sexual aggressor” as he staunchly defended his client against assault allegations made against him.

Huntley Johnson attempted to dispel some reports about Harris’ relationship with the woman and what happened early Sunday at an on-campus residence, saying “misstatements in the media have painted a picture that is inconsistent with the evidence.”

Harris, a freshman from Miami, has been banned from team activities while authorities investigate sexual assault allegations made against him.

Johnson said the woman showed “no indication of any physical or mental trauma” after the alleged sexual assault.

“We believe the evidence will show the alleged victim was in fact the sexual aggressor with not one, but two young men early last Sunday morning,” Johnson said.

Harris has not been arrested or charged with a crime.

The Associated Press does not usually identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault.

Johnson’s statement comes a day after the university released an 18-page incident report that was mostly redacted because of privacy laws. Florida coach Will Muschamp has said he is “very comfortable” with how the university is handling the situation and that everyone needs to let the legal process play out.

Harris’ attorney is adamant the quarterback has done nothing wrong.

“We want to dispel the idea that the alleged victim and our client didn’t know each other,” Johnson said. “Our client and the alleged victim knew each other to the extent that they had each other’s cellphone numbers and had previously spent time together of their own accord for the purpose of socializing together.

“We want to dispel the idea and rumors floating around that our client forced his way into the alleged victim’s apartment. Those rumors are patently false. Mr. Harris has never been inside the young lady’s room. We understand that all of the evidence was gathered from our client’s room, which is where the interaction between the two parties took place.”

Johnson said his investigation has produced no evidence that the woman was impaired and added that another man told law enforcement officials that he had sexual relations with the woman less than an hour before the alleged assault took place.

“We have provided law enforcement with multiple witnesses that will indicate what the interaction was between the alleged victim and our client before they returned to our client’s room,” Johnson said. “They were smiling and they were holding hands. They returned to the Springs Residential Complex in a car driven by another female student who was a friend of the alleged victim.”

Harris replaced benched quarterback Jeff Driskel late in the third quarter against Tennessee on Saturday and led the Gators to 10 points in his first two drives. Florida held on to win 10-9.

Johnson said the woman started texting Harris before he left the locker room in Knoxville.

“We have previously indicated that we do not believe that Mr. Harris will be arrested or prosecuted,” Johnson said. “That is because of our experience and the facts of this case. He is not guilty of a crime and he did not mistreat this young lady in any way that night.”

Johnson also disclosed several ways in which Harris has cooperated with investigators: he agreed to a search of his dorm room and phone and gave a voluntary statement to law enforcement.

The attorney also provided at least six eyewitnesses to the events in questions, provided Internet photos of the alleged victim “smiling and happy” after the alleged misconduct Sunday.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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