Wade released from jail

by Joanna Salmen, City Editor

University of Wisconsin men’s basketball player Maurice “Boo” Wade was released from Dane County Jail Thursday on signature bond after being arrested Wednesday on the felony charge of choking a 19-year-old woman.

Wade, who missed the Badgers’ victory over Minnesota Wednesday night, has been accused of substantial battery and was suspended from competition due to the UW Student-Athlete Discipline Policy. It was announced Thursday that Wade will appeal the suspension.

According to the police report, Wade choked the woman twice and put her in a headlock between 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesday on the 600 block of North Langdon. The woman was treated at a local hospital for neck injuries and later released.

She reported the incident the following day. Wade, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, was arrested at his apartment on West Dayton Street just hours before the Minnesota game.

Wade was held in jail overnight before appearing before a judge, after which he was released. He has been ordered not to contact the woman.

The UW Student-Athlete Discipline Policy, designed by Barry Alvarez, states any athlete “convicted of, charged with or arrested for a violation of the law involving drugs, gambling or violence,” will be suspended from all games and practices.

The student athlete will appeal the suspension to an Appeals Committee, made up of the director of athletics, chair of the Athletic Board, one senior staff member from athletics, one head coach and one member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Before the policy was implemented last August, individual coaches were responsible for disciplining players. At present, coaches may hold their own discipline policies, but they must abide by the Student-Athlete Discipline Policy as well.

Steve Malchow, UW director of communications, said the university would not release a statement until Wade goes through the appeals process.