UW-Madison sophomore and men's basketball guard Maurice \Boo"" Wade was charged with misdemeanor battery Wednesday. Wade was arrested last Wednesday on the tentative charge of substantial battery, a felony, following allegations that he tried to choke a woman.
In spite of the charge, Wade played in UW-Madison's game against the University of Iowa last night. He had been suspended indefinitely immediately upon arrest in accordance with the Athletic Department's Student-Athlete Discipline Policy. Wade appealed the suspension which was then changed to two games he had already missed.
The Appeals Committee's decision to reinstate Wade's eligibility for practices and games stands, according to Bruce Jones, chair of that committee and of the UW Athletic Board, because the legal process and student-athlete discipline process are independent of one another. A decision to re-suspend Wade could be made by the Appeals Committee upon new information, Jones said.
""We review the information that's made available to us, and determine whether in fact this new information changes opinions regarding the athlete being allowed to continue to practice and compete,"" Jones said. ""If there comes a piece of information that causes the Appeals Committee to become uncomfortable, then it reserves the right to reinstate the suspension.""
Wade was arrested after a 19-year-old female UW-Madison student told police Wade came to her apartment and choked her twice with his hands and once from behind with his forearm. She then went to the hospital for treatment for neck injuries, according to the criminal complaint.
The woman who accused Wade declined to comment when reached by phone.
Wade was released last Thursday on signature bond, meaning he did not have to post money for bail. He spent last Wednesday night in jail after his arrest.
Wade is scheduled to appear in court today. The misdemeanor battery charge he faces is a change from the tentative felony charge of substantial battery on which he was originally held. Wade's attorney, Steve Hurley, said at the bond hearing the charges differ based on degree of harm suffered by a victim.
Wade's case is the second discipline case to come before SADP, according to Jones. The new policy was announced in August 2003, replacing a system where coaches handled disciplinary decisions.
