Southwest Baptist University acts following alleged beating

- © 2006, Springfield News-Leader

At least one student at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar has been expelled for alleged involvement in the beating of a man outside a Springfield nightclub last month.

Officials at the Christian college who conducted an internal investigation would not confirm whether the four football players arrested by Springfield police on suspicion of first-degree assault were expelled.

“We have cooperated fully with authorities since having first become aware of this incident and the allegation of involvement of our students,” SBU President C. Pat Taylor said in a prepared statement. “The alleged conduct is clearly not condoned by or acceptable to the university.”

Several men attacked Joshua M. Mincks, 22, of Bolivar in a parking lot behind Cowboys 2000, 2929 E. Kearney St., after the club closed in the early morning hours of April 13.

Witnesses told police the men who beat Mincks — a white male with reportedly a swastika tattooed on his arm — were black. Police are investigating whether the beating was racially motivated.

Last week, Mincks underwent jaw surgery at St. John’s Hospital after regaining consciousness and moving out of the hospital’s intensive care unit.

No charges have been filed against the SBU football players arrested in connection with the attack.

Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore last week called the assault investigation a “mess” and said that some witness accounts have been called into question by detectives.

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