DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Two former Duke University lacrosse players accused of sexual assault last year are being allowed to return to the North Carolina school in good standing.
The Raleigh News & Observer reported that the university has informed Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty that their administrative leave of absence would be lifted and that both men, who were involved in the rape scandal, would be allowed to return to Duke.
David Evanshe, the third former lacrosse team player involved in the controversial case, graduated from Duke last year.
One university executive said that the reinstatement comes after rape charges were dropped against the men in December and more than a month before the next related court date in the matter.
"As circumstances have evolved in this extraordinary case, we have attempted to balance recognition of the gravity of legal charges with the presumption of your innocence," Larry Moneta explained. "Now with the approach of a new term, we believe that circumstances warrant that we strike this balance differently."
The newspaper said it was not known if Finnerty and Seligmann would return to Duke.
