Missouri Title IX office investigating basketball player Terrence Phillips

The University of Missouri-Columbia’s Title IX office has opened an investigation into Mizzou basketball player Terrence Phillips, according to a copy of an email sent from the office to an alleged victim and obtained by The Star on Sunday.

The Title IX office investigates issues of sexual violence, harassment and discrimination. Its investigations are conducted independent of law enforcement.

The team indefinitely suspended Phillips on Friday for a “violation of team policy,” saying that his “future status with the program will be determined in coordination with campus and department leadership.”

The Title IX email said that “based on additional information received by our office, the university is proceeding with an investigation against Terrence Phillips.”

The email was sent Friday. The team announced Phillips’ suspension Friday evening. He practiced with the team, according to a source, but he did not join Missouri for its Saturday game at Mississippi State.

Mizzou basketball coach Cuonzo Martin told reporters after the game at Mississippi State that Phillips’ future status with the team is “up in the air.” The coach said he did not know when Phillips’ suspension might end.

The university issued a statement late Sunday afternoon saying it can neither confirm nor deny that any action has been taken by the Title IX office.

“We want to reiterate that the safety of our students, faculty and staff is paramount,” the statement read, in part. “The university takes alleged violations of Title IX very seriously, and any allegations are investigated thoroughly and fairly. In some cases, interim measures are taken while an investigation is pending.”

Phillips, a junior from Orange County, Calif., has been the Tigers’ third-string point guard this season after starting for most of his first two years at MU.

This story was originally published January 28, 2018 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Missouri Title IX office investigating basketball player Terrence Phillips."