La Voz

De Anza College suspended eight players of the baseball team last Tuesday for code of conduct violations stemming from the alleged rape of a 17 year-old girl on March 3.

Details of the incident are unclear and none of the players have been identified. According to reports the athletes were at a birthday party of one of the players in the Burbank neighborhood of San Jose.

It is not known exactly how many players were involved or witnessed the incident, but the Santa Clara County Sheriff's department is continuing their investigation, according to Sgt. Ed Wise of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Media Relations Unit. "We have no plans on making arrests," Wise said " But that can change at any time."

Student reaction is mixed. "I couldn't believe it when I heard what happened," student Chris Sullivan said. "It's a horrible thing."

But some are unaffected. "I just go here for school," Jennifer Nguyen said. "[The incident] won't make me stop taking classes."

An e-mail sent to De Anza College faculty and staff last week, advised to refer all questions to Director of Marketing and Communications Marisa Spatafore.

The administration is taking the incident very seriously. Spatafore said.

"We are very concerned for the alleged victim, and are deeply disturbed about these allegations." De Anza College President Brian Murphy said in the e-mail.

The college canceled all three baseball games last week, but are expected to resume play Tuesday without the suspended players. Murphy is scheduling a meeting with all student athletes to discuss the incident and the code of conduct, Spartfore said.

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