In an email sent to students on Monday, Lee University President Mark Walker addressed questions surrounding the recent rape indictment of former campus choir director James "Jimmy" Phillips.
"As you might expect, the news media is eager for Lee to provide a more detailed response, and we will be sending the following statement later this morning," Walker wrote.
Last week, Phillips, 68, was arrested by the Bradley County Sheriff's Office. He is accused of a rape in 2014.
At the time of the arrest, Lee officials said the university "responded immediately to this situation when it came to our attention in 2014." But it did not clarify why Phillips remained in his position until 2020 if the university was made aware of the situation six years ago.
In the statement sent to students and later to the Times Free Press on Monday, university spokesperson Brian Conn wrote, "The situation involving Jimmy Phillips relates to an accusation that took place in 2014. At that time, Lee fully investigated the allegation, which Mr. Phillips categorically denied.
"To Lee's knowledge, there were no further allegations or developments related to this matter until 2018, when the complainant filed a police report related to the 2014 allegations, at which time a criminal investigation was initiated."
"The university has cooperated fully with law enforcement, and to its knowledge, no action was taken by law enforcement," Conn wrote, adding that the university was "unaware of any action taken by Cleveland Police Department against Jimmy Phillips between the police report filed in 2018 and the indictment."
Since 2018, the complainant did not file any official report with the university, officials said.
"Lee also is not currently aware of any other allegation of misconduct against the former employee," Conn wrote.
"Our students' well-being is of utmost importance to Lee. We take seriously any allegations of sexual misconduct, thoroughly investigating each case according to the Title IX regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education," the statement read.
In the statement to students, Walker wrote, "We will continue to provide you with updates as this situation unfolds. In the meantime, I ask you join me in prayer for all parties involved."
Phillips has not responded to Times Free Press requests for comment.
Contact Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.