UTC wants accused rapist gone for good

photo Corey Mock

Corey Mock, the former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestler expelled after he was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student last spring, won't graduate this semester. And now the school wants him gone for good.

Mock returned to campus two weeks ago after a Davidson County, Tenn., chancellor granted a stay so he could complete his studies. But his father, C.D. Mock, said Corey found out after returning that two classes he needs for graduation won't be offered until the summer session.

After a bench ruling like the chancellor's, it's normal for the winning party, in this case Mock's attorney, to file a proposed order, and for the university to file either an objection or another proposed order. In this case, the university's response seems to be particularly aggressive.

Timeline

March 16, 2014 -- Corey Mock and Molly Morris meet at a party in the early morning. Mock says they had consensual sex. Morris says she was unconconsious and was raped. April 3, 2014 -- Morris files a complaint with the university. June 24, 2014 -- Mock goes before University Judicial Officer Joanie Sompayrac for a hearing under the Uniform Rules and Procedures Act. Aug. 4, 2014 -- Sompayrac rules that Mock is not responsible for sexual misconduct. Aug. 25, 2014 -- Sompayrac reverses her decision after Morris and the university ask her to reconsider. Mock is officially expelled, but Sompayrac stays that decision pending an appeal. Dec. 2, 2014 -- University Chancellor Steven Angle, ruling on Mock's appeal, finds him responsible. He is expelled. Mock appeals Angle's decision to Davidson County Chancery Court. A Davidson County Chancery Court judge grants Mock a temporary injunction, allowing him to take his fall semester finals. Jan. 9, 2015 --After a hearing in Nashville, the Chancery Court grants a protective order allowing Mock to continue his studies during the spring semester, citing "irreparable harm" caused by losing the semester should he win his appeal. Jan. 26, 2015 -- UTC files an objection to the Jan. 9 order after finding out Mock will not graduate this spring.

After finding out that Mock won't graduate, a university attorney Tuesday filed an objection to Mock's motion for an injunction, saying he believed the spring 2015 graduation date was a "deciding factor" in Chancellor Carol McCoy's decision to stay Mock's expulsion pending his appeal.

The objection cites sections of the transcript from Mock's Jan. 9 hearing in which McCoy states: "In order to be fair, I think it is appropriate to grant the injunction in a limited sense, and that is to allow him to enroll as a full-time student in order to complete his studies. I am not, however, inclined to grant any additional relief other than to let him finish his studies and graduate."

Mock had also petitioned the court for an injunction allowing him to return to UTC's wrestling team. That was denied.

The university would have McCoy vacate or deny her stay, implementing University Chancellor Steve Angle's order and expelling Mock effective August 2014.

The university attorney argued that since the earliest Mock could graduate now is August 2015, McCoy's ruling of irreparable harm is no longer valid.

But for C.D. Mock, the new order feels like a personal attack.

"I just think it's kind of vicious," he said.

C.D. Mock said he doesn't understand why the university is seeking to remove his son from the school altogether. He pointed to the fact that the young woman who says Mock raped her is no longer on campus.

"They have absolutely nothing to gain and nothing to lose, that I can fathom," Mock said.

The woman, Molly Morris, is suing the university, alleging violations of the federal Title IX Act. At a meeting of administrators and students days before Mock was scheduled to return to campus, several students expressed outrage over the university's handling of the case and Mock's return to campus.

The alleged victim's name had been withheld from several previous stories in accordance with Times Free Press policy regarding rape cases, but she has granted permission to print it.

Morris is no longer in Chattanooga.

A university spokesman said he could not comment on a pending case.

Contact staff writer Claire Wiseman at cwiseman@times freepress or 423-757-6347. Follow her on Twitter@clairelwiseman.

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