Doninger suspends Honegger

After saying a week ago that the athletics department properly dealt with senior Rachael Honegger's guilty plea to a felony, athletics director Clarence Doninger agreed Wednesday to suspend Honegger from playing basketball during an IU Athletics Committee investigation.\nHonegger can practice and travel with the team but cannot participate in regular season or postseason games until the inquiry is completed.\nIU President Myles Brand asked Doninger to suspend Honegger while the investigation proceeds, University spokeswoman Susan Dillman said. Doninger complied.\n"President Brand determined suspension was not only in the best interest of the student, but also in the best interest of the University," Dillman said. "He conveyed that to Clarence Doninger, and Doninger agreed."\nAfter hearing of the situation through news reports, Brand expressed concern he was not made aware of Honegger's actions earlier. Brand asked Bruce Jaffee, associate dean for academics of the Kelley School of Business and chairman of the Athletics Committee, Monday to investigate the situation further. Brand asked Jaffee to see if Honegger's actions violate the IU athletics conduct code, adopted by the board of trustees last fall.\nBrand also asked Dean of Students Richard McKaig to determine if there were violations of the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct. \nNo firm timetable has been set, Doninger said, although all parties hope for a speedy but thorough investigation.\n"It is my hope that the matter can be resolved quickly and Ms. Honegger can be reinstated fully to the team," Doninger said in a statement. \nJaffee said the investigation is under way.\n"Committee members are actively gathering information and conducting interviews," Jaffee said. "There's no set date. We want to do this as quickly but as thoroughly as possible. But I certainly want to have it done by the athletics committee meeting later this month."\nDoninger said Monday that a glitch in the lines of communication was the problem that kept Brand from hearing of Honegger's situation.\nIn his statement Wednesday, he said the guilty plea came around the time Knight was fired.\n"The athletics department became aware of this problem during a hectic time relating to the men's basketball program," Doninger said. "Unfortunately, there was an inadvertent communications gap with IU President Myles Brand, which I regret."\nHonegger was sentenced to six months on house arrest Jan. 29 for embezzling money from a grocery store where she worked. Honegger was also ordered to pay $13,117.44 restitution by Monroe Circuit Judge David Welch.\nIn a probable cause affidavit filed in June, an Indiana State Police detective said Honegger confessed to forging money orders and taking cash from the store, saying she needed the money because she was planning to marry.\nThe athletics department and women's basketball coach Kathi Bennett internally punished Honegger after learning of the theft last spring but would not comment on the terms of the action.\nHonegger has started in all 21 of IU's basketball games this season.\nIn a statement, Bennett supported Brand's decision but stood by the original punishment.\n"I believe what we did initially was correct, but I also understand, accept and support President Brand's decision," Bennett said. "I will continue to stand behind Rachael"