Longwood University junior basketball player Jason Pimentel was arrested, and charged with sexual battery in November 2014. Longwood Chief of Police Robert Beach discussed the investigation, “The victim said that in the early morning hours of November 2, she was ‘forcibly fondled’ by an individual who was later determined to be Jason Pimentel.”

Immediately following his arrest, University officials took action: Pimentel was suspended from all team activities for an “undetermined amount of time,” and Head Coach Jayson Gee assured the community that the issue had his “full attention as well as that of the athletics department,” and that it would be “handled it with the seriousness it deserves.”

Yet, as winter break concluded, when student athletes made their way back onto campus and into practice to prepare for the spring season ahead, Jason Pimentel was among them. On February 2, Jason Pimentel was convicted of sexual battery. Just twelve days later, on February 14, Jason Pimentel suited up as a Lancer to take on Big South conference opponent Charleston Southern.

Longwood University — founded in 1839 as Farmville Female Seminary, and until just four decades ago, all female — seems to have forsaken its roots as an educators’ educator, and its role to empower women. All in favor of furthering a flagging basketball program.

Though University administration have officials have contended that the support of its Athletics program is not at the heart of this decision, the decision nonetheless sets a dangerous precedent, telling the entire student body — men and women alike — that there are little to no repercussions for sexual misconduct on campus.

Jason Pimentel has appealed his conviction, and will appear in court again on April 21, but until such time that he is found not guilty, the University needs to do what is right: Tell University President Taylor Reveley and Athletics Director Troy Austin to dismiss Jason Pimentel.