Whitman details timeline of Illini star's suspension

Dec. 29—CHAMPAIGN — Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman informing Terrence Shannon Jr. of his suspension after a warrant arrived for his arrest Wednesday from Douglas County (Kan.) started the 48-hour clock on the university conduct panel that will determine Shannon's status until a legal resolution of the rape charge levied against him.

The three-person panel selected by Chancellor Robert Jones operates independently of the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and consists of a faculty member from the College of Law, a faculty athletics representative and a staff member from the student affairs office. The decision the panel makes is final — at least in the period between charges being filed, Shannon's immediate suspension and any legal resolution.

"The conduct panel can reconvene at any time if new information were to be received or is forthcoming," Whitman said. "The conduct panel's decision relates to this interim period of time. If, at some point, there is resolution to the legal process, then the responsibility for determining the student-athlete's long-term status within the program falls back to me as the athletic director."

Illinois reached this point with Shannon more than three months after the alleged incident in Lawrence, Kan., during the weekend following the Illinois-Kansas football game Shannon attended as a fan.

Whitman said Illinois was made aware in late September, through the University of Illinois police department, that the Lawrence police department was interested in conducting an interview with Shannon. At that point, Whitman said it was unclear whether Shannon was the subject of the inquiry or had witnessed something during his weekend in Kansas.

Shannon's status as the subject of the Lawrence police investigation came to light a few days after the initial inquiry. Whitman said details remained limited at that time.

"In subsequent conversations we did learn, again through UIPD, the allegations that were being investigated seemed to be something that occurred in public in a Lawrence bar where (Shannon) interacted with a young woman, and the allegation was he engaged in some inappropriate touching of her in the course of that interaction," Whitman said. "Everything we received was verbal, informal. It was light on details. It was unsubstantiated. It was unclear to us whether Lawrence authorities intended to pursue anything further or what additional information they were trying to obtain. We weren't made aware of any specific charges the folks in Lawrence were pursuing."

That lack of formal allegations or any documentation led Illinois to maintain the status quo with Shannon. No suspension. No change in anything about his status as an Illinois athlete and face of the men's basketball program. Whitman said the DIA asked the Lawrence police, through the UIPD, for "something more concrete" like a police report that might trigger the student-athlete conduct policy.

"Nothing was forthcoming," Whitman said despite a multi-week effort to obtain information. "I don't say that in a judgmental way. Lawrence PD had their own investigation to run. We don't expect them to prioritize what's happening here in Champaign. The fact of the matter is we weren't able to get additional information despite our request to do so.

"We saw that we didn't have the same kind of information that we had used to initiate the process in the past. There was no written notice of allegations. There was no documentation. We didn't have a police report. We were looking to obtain something more than just the verbal updates we received from Lawrence PD through UIPD to us."

The arrival of an arrest warrant Wednesday afternoon was the first time, Whitman said, anyone was aware of the rape charge Shannon faced. The police report was then received later Wednesday evening. And while the charges were officially filed Dec. 5, the Illinois athletic director said he did not see the charging report until Thursday after a DIA staffer retrieved it from social media.

Illinois was in the middle of its practice Wednesday when the arrest warrant arrived. Whitman informed Illini coach Brad Underwood, who was aware of every step of the process since September, of the change in the circumstances of the situation, then informed Shannon of the suspension.

Shannon received written notice of his suspension — a required formal notice — Thursday. The DIA also arranged for transportation for Shannon to Lawrence, where he surrendered to authorities, was booked, posted bond and released.

Underwood addressed the rest of the team Thursday morning — the first the other players heard of the situation — before Shannon's suspension was officially announced.

"We kept (Underwood) apprised of new information as we received it," Whitman said. "We refreshed him on our misconduct process. We reminded him of how this could work — if and when we received the necessary information to trigger the process in the first place up to and potentially including Terrence's suspension. The policy is designed to move our coaches out of the process altogether. Brad has been kept largely on the sidelines during this."

While Shannon has been suspended from all team activities, Whitman said he is still "a scholarship student-athlete at the University of Illinois." That allows Shannon access to certain support services and personnel, although "he will not be engaged with the team."

The next step in the process is a review of the suspension by the university conduct panel. The immediate suspension — and there are no questions asked when it is triggered by a criminal complaint like in Shannon's case — lasts no longer than 48 hours before it is reviewed and is either upheld, amended or lifted before any legal resolution triggers the final decision Whitman makes.

"The conduct panel will be presented with the information we have available to us at the moment," Whitman said. "Ultimately, they'll be empowered to consider a number of different factors in determining what serves the best interest of our community, our students and, of course, our university."

Whitman declined to discuss any timeline about those procedures. Any potential return to play for Shannon, however, is dependent on two scenarios.

"Either the conduct panel would have to vote to return him to status during this interim period or there would be some resolution of the case in the legal system that would open the door for his return," Whitman said.