The following statement is being issued to clarify matters related to the previously announced NCAA withholding of two Bradley University men's basketball student-athletes from near term competition:

In recent months it came to light that an honest mistake by a local employer (STAR Transport) had been made in regards to the method of payment for the summer of 2005.   As confirmed by an external NCAA Staff's review, STAR has had a proper and constructive employment relationship with the University for well over a decade.  Unfortunately, an understandable business decision to ease a paperwork burden led to an inadvertent conflict with permissible NCAA employment regulations.  More specifically, unlike previous summers when the student-athletes were paid an hourly wage commensurate with their work performed and experience, this year a weekly salary was established based on assumed hourly contributions.  Although the decision for the change was arbitrarily made by a STAR supervisor, and without the knowledge of their ownership or Bradley, the University accepts complete responsibility for not having fully educated this individual or the student-athletes involved in regards to the NCAA restrictions.  Further, as acknowledged by the NCAA Staff, all individuals associated with STAR Transport and Bradley University have been extremely cooperative and accessible in regards to the investigation.