In her suit, the former student alleges that she was raped by two football players in her dormitory room. Her complaint states that she relied on Virginia Tech to prosecute the players in lieu of filing criminal charges. A university judicial panel found the football player guilty of sexual misconduct and ordered a two-semester suspension. The charge and his punishment were reduced in subsequent appeals, and the player was allowed to return to Virginia Tech on a football scholarship in 1995. It is expected that at least one of the defendants named in the Violence Against Women Act complaint will ask the full Fourth Circuit to review the decision.
Court of appeals denies satellite industry's motion for a stay of the new satellite royalty rates.
On December 22, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association's motion for a stay of the new 27-cent satellite royalty rate. Since it now appears that there is little chance of a legal remedy, the satellite industry is expected to seek a legislative solution by asking Congress to pass legislation that would halt the implementation of the 27-cent rate. NCAA continues to assist in effort to preserve satellite royalty rate increase. As a result of the recent adoption by the Librarian of Congress of a new compulsory license satellite royalty rate for the retransmission of distant network and superstation signals, the satellite industry is asking Congress to pass legislation to halt the implementation of the new rates. Hearings are likely to be held in both chambers over the next few months.