Investigation begins at Colorado

DENVER -- The University of Colorado president vowed Friday to mount an impartial investigation into whether the football program enticed recruits with alcohol-fueled sex parties that may have led to rape.

Speaking before nearly 200 people at an emergency meeting of the university regents, President Elizabeth Hoffman chose two former state lawmakers, Democrat Peggy Lamm and Republican Joyce Lawrence, to co-chair the commission.

The commission must report its findings on whether "sex and alcohol are used as recruiting tools" by April 30. The regents backed the plan on a 7-2 vote, with regents Jim Martin and Cindy Carlisle dissenting.

"We have a black eye with the state of Colorado if not the country," said Martin, suggesting the school could not investigate itself.

School officials have denied the charges, but nearly 3,000 pages of depositions have been released in the past week. Some of the statements suggest athletics officials, including football coach Gary Barnett, didn't do much to crack down on the parties.

Barnett, however, told the regents that during preseason camp, for an hour every night, they go over a players' handbook that outlines the exemplary behavior expected of them.