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ND prez: Irish handled sex case right

Notre Dame's president says the university acted with integrity in its handling of sexual misconduct allegations against a football player by a St. Mary's College student who later committed suicide.

Notre Dame's president says the university acted with integrity in its handling of sexual misconduct allegations against a football player by a St. Mary's College student who later committed suicide.

Campus police conducted a "thorough and judicious investigation that followed the facts where they led," the Rev. John I. Jenkins told the South Bend Tribune for a story published yesterday.

"I cannot stand by and allow the integrity of Notre Dame to be challenged so publicly," Jenkins said. "The values at issue go to the very heart of who and what we are at Notre Dame."

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak said Dec. 16 that his office won't pursue criminal charges in the case.

Elizabeth Seeberg, 19, died of a suspected drug overdose Sept. 10. Dvorak said Seeberg accused a student-athlete of touching her breasts on Aug. 31. He didn't reveal the name of the athlete.

Tom and Mary Seeberg of Northbrook, Ill., have criticized Notre Dame's handling of their daughter's death, telling the Chicago Tribune the school's investigation was superficial.

"We spent a lot of time hoping they would live their values in this case," Tom Seeberg told ABC News. "Live their values of sharing what they could about the investigation and live their values by trying to give Lizzy a voice in the University of Notre Dame disciplinary process."

Dvorak said the case broke down because of inconsistencies in the statements of various people involved in the case.

Jenkins said the player and a friend still might face student disciplinary action on accusations of sending Seeberg a text message that said, "Messing with notre dame football is a bad idea."

Noteworthy

* New Temple coach Steve Addazio received his first recruiting commitment, from Cedric Walker, a 5-9, 170-pound running back from Gulliver Prep in Miami.

* Georgia Tech will be without three more players for the first half of tonight's Independence Bowl against Air Force because they missed a team curfew. Coach Paul Johnson announced that starting defensive end Anthony Egbuniwe and reserve defensive backs Louis Young and Michael Peterson won't be allowed to play until the second half. The Yellow Jackets will be missing four other players for the entire game, including receiver Stephen Hill and safety Mario Edwards, declared ineligible for the bowl because of academic problems.