Related Links: Forum: Should Knight be punished?
	T O P   N E W S

Brand's action came a day after an athletics advisory committee urged a review of Reed's claim that Knight choked him at practice in 1997. Knight has denied choking Reed.

The trustees were told to report their findings to Brand within 90 days.

"The objective is to get to the truth of the matter while being fair to all parties involved," Brand said.

He appointed John D. Walda, the president of the board of trustees, and Frederick F. Eichhorn, a trustee and former president of the Indiana State Bar Association, to investigate.

The 13-member advisory committee, made up of faculty, students and alumni, voted unanimously at its regular monthly meeting Wednesday night to ask for the investigation. Knight, on a hunting trip, did not attend.

Athletic director Clarence Doninger spoke to the committee, but the group did not view a videotape or read the transcript of a report in which Reed described the alleged attack by Knight.

Brand said Doninger interviewed the entire coaching staff and all team members, including Reed, in 1997. None of those interviewed, including Reed, made any specific allegations of abuse at the time, Brand said.

"Mr. Reed has now come forward with specific allegations, which have received widespread media coverage. This review will explore the allegations and, at its conclusion, present an honest and fair account," Brand said.

He said the university would have no further statements on the investigation until it is done.

The recommendation of an investigation was sent to Brand on Thursday by Bruce Jaffee, a business professor and chairman of the Indiana University Bloomington Athletics Committee, which advises Brand but has no power to discipline Knight.

"The press has thought that there is some basis for a review, and we're urging the president to take care of that," he said.

Jaffee said Wednesday's recommendation was the first the committee has made concerning Knight. He would not answer questions about the allegation or say what action committee members thought Brand should take.

"We believe (Knight) ought to be treated fairly. If it's found there's no substance to it, so be it," Jaffee said.