I think this is the only way Whitman could handle it. Kudos to him and the university for making a good, tough decision. Look, if the Ray Rice (NFL) thing had never happened and the issue of domestic violence in the world of sports wasn't in the spotlight, this particular case might be seen in a different light. Likewise, if the basketball program hadn't been in the news for all the wrong reasons the last few years, there might be more play.
What Nunn did was obviously reprehensible, but as I understand it he didn't cause or intend to cause bodily harm: he was trying to intimidate the victim and get back money she owed him. If I had a son who bullied and threatened a woman, then slapped her upside the head, pinned her down, and poured a glass of water on her face, I'd be furious and unbelievably disappointed. I'm extremely disappointed in Nunn's decision making. I'm also not willing to call him a violent abuser or a woman beater or anything like that. More like a dumb kid who needs to work on his self-control and learn to treat women with respect.
I think the way the situation is being processed is highly context dependent (but then isn't everything?). That said, in light of the dynamics of the cultural moment and the state of the program, this was the only acceptable outcome. Hope Kendrick gets it together and succeeds at the next stop.