BOULDER, Colo. -- An advocacy group said University of Colorado police shouldn't be investigating allegations of a gang rape at a party attended by CU football players.

The role of CU police as the lead agency on the case was questioned Friday by the Lakewood-based National Coalition Against Violent Student Athletes.

"We're not talking about someone cutting class," said Bill Redmond of Littleton, whose daughter was raped by a football player when she was at an out-of-state college a decade ago. "These are felonies and violations of state laws. I think the campus police should stay out of it."

Boulder and CU police are working together on the case. Police officials have declined to discuss the details of the allegations. They have said the alleged victim had a rapport with a female CU police detective.

The university has launched its own investigation.

CU spokeswoman Bobbi Barrow said a friend of the alleged victim approached Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ron Stump at a weekend event with news of the incident.

Stump "encouraged the alleged victim through the friend to take action to get help ... and he also encouraged her to come forward," Barrow said. "Confidentiality was very important to this young woman."

The female CU student said she was attacked at an off-campus party for football recruits Dec. 7. The Daily Camera reported Friday that two women at the party said six CU football players and about 15 recruits were there. The women said there was alcohol at the party.

The women said the alleged victim, who is over 18, was taken to the hospital. Boulder Community Hospital officials wouldn't confirm the woman was treated there.

The victim in the alleged attack has not said if she will press charges. If she doesn't, the investigation could be dropped.

CU Regent Peter Steinhauer acknowledged the gang-rape allegations hurt the reputation of the university and its football team, but cautioned, "We have to wait and see what the actual facts are.

"If there are some guilty parties they're certainly going to be punished," Steinhauer said.

Football coach Gary Barnett has said the alleged incident could affect the Buffaloes at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day. The Buffs, No. 3 in the Bowl Championship Series, are preparing for the bowl game in Tempe, Ariz., where they will play Oregon (No. 2, BCS).

Some team members defended the players believed to have attended the party.

"I know the people who are allegedly involved," senior safety Robbie Robinson said. "I know that they have great character, and I would highly doubt if something like this was true."

Others were more upset. Sophomore linebacker Sean Tufts said he was disappointed.

"We're kind of angry at them. We're going for something that hasn't been done around here for a long time, and to have something like that tarnish it is very disappointing," Tufts said.

Dave Plati, the CU sports department spokesman, said the party wasn't a sanctioned event for the recruits.

This isn't the first time the CU football team has been embroiled in such allegations. In December 1997, a Niwot High School student reported she was sexually assaulted by two CU recruits at a party. No charges were filed because witnesses couldn't corroborate the woman's allegations.

The two recruits suspected in the assault never enrolled at CU.