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Florida reinstates QB Harris, complaint withdrawn

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Treon Harris has been fully reinstated by the university and the football team after a fellow student accuser withdrew her sexual battery complaint against the freshman.

The school said in a statement Friday that the woman who made the allegation “is not pursuing criminal charges against him at this time, but maintains the right to do so in the future.” The university added that it is not proceeding with any action against Harris.

Florida coach Will Muschamp responded by reinstating Harris, but said he will not play in Saturday night’s game against Southeastern Conference rival LSU.

“We have been notified that the university and legal process is complete,” Muschamp said in a statement. “Treon has been reinstated to the team, but he will not play Saturday.

“This has been a learning experience for everyone involved. Treon has been honest with me throughout the process and is looking forward to rejoining his teammates.”

Harris took to social media to recognize his supporters.

“I wanna thank everybody who supported me through this whole situation with the prayers and the love,” Harris posted on his Instagram account.

Under Florida law, the woman could be charged with a misdemeanor if authorities believe she filed a false police report.

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

The school has protected her anonymity, too.

“The university always will take swift and decisive action when we have concerns about the safety of our students,” spokeswoman Janine Sikes said.

A Miami native who chose Florida over in-state rival Florida State, Harris was banned from all team activities Monday while authorities investigated the allegations made against him. He also was not allowed to attend classes.

The school said Harris was accused of sexually assaulting a female student at an on-campus residence hall around 3 a.m. Sunday — hours after he helped Florida rally to beat Tennessee 10-9 in Knoxville.

Harris was not arrested or charged with a crime.

“I am pleased for Treon Harris and his family,” said Harris’ attorney, Huntley Johnson.

Sikes said the police report will be released when it is available. The university released an 18-pade incident report Wednesday, but most of it was redacted for privacy reasons.

Johnson had tried to dispel media reports about his client’s relationship with the woman and what happened early Sunday.

The attorney said the woman showed “no indication of any physical or mental trauma” after the incident, adding that there was evidence the woman was the “sexual aggressor with not one, but two young men early last Sunday morning.”

Harris replaced benched starter 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.

“He is not guilty of a crime and he did not mistreat this young lady in any way that night,” Johnson said.

Harris, who has completed 4 of 6 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, will be on the sideline against the Tigers. He did not practice all week or take part in team meetings.

Driskel was named the starter Wednesday despite struggling most of the year. Skyler Mornhinweg or freshman Will Grier will serve as the backup.

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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