IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS RELEASE

11-16-95

Contacts: 
John Anderson, University Relations, (515) 294-6136
Murray Blackwelder, Interim Vice President for External Affairs,
(515) 294-7730
Gene Smith, Director of Athletics, (515) 294-0123
Tim Floyd, Men's Basketball Coach, (515) 294-8232 


PRATT REINSTATED TO IOWA STATE BASKETBALL TEAM

AMES, Iowa--Iowa State University officials have recommended
that ISU men's basketball Coach Tim Floyd reinstate Kenny
Pratt as a member of the Cyclone basketball team.  Pratt was
removed from the team Oct. 20 after sexual assault charges
were filed against him.  

Floyd said he would accept the recommendation.  The action
comes after the Story County Attorney's Office declined to
proceed with the case and the District Court dropped the
charges.
  
Iowa State Interim Vice President for External Affairs
Murray Blackwelder said the decision was made after
reviewing information made available since Pratt's Oct. 20
dismissal from the basketball team.  

"After discussing with university counsel and Kenny Pratt's
attorney additional information that led to the dismissal of
the charges against Kenny, I recommended that Athletic
Director Gene Smith work with Tim Floyd to reinstate Kenny
to our basketball team," Blackwelder said.  

Smith said he concurred with the decision to reinstate
Pratt.  "Additional information has been made available to
us since our original decision," Smith said.  "Obviously, we
would not reinstate Kenny to the team if we didn't feel it
was the right thing to do.  We will provide Kenny with the
help he needs to deal with this situation." 

Floyd said Pratt's reinstatement is effective immediately.  

ISU Vice President for Business and Finance Warren Madden
said that he has requested that university and county
officials get together to review handling of potential
criminal cases.