Sexual Assault cases on college campuses By Kira Doughten

Big Questions  Are college’s administrators and their police putting the victims best interests in mind or the reputation of the school?  Are student athletes or students on academic scholarships getting special treatment when they are accused of sexual assault?  What is our schools policy on sexual assault, and is it enough?  How can we encourage more women to come forward about their assaults?

My Claim  Sexual assault cases are poorly handled by college administrators and should be handled by the local police.

Hannah Graham

 In 2011 Northeastern University let Katherine Rizzo’s rapist transfer to the University of Maryland before an appeal hearing with only ‘pending disciplinary action’ on his transcript.  Brandon Austin was accused of rape in 2013 at Providence College, transferred to the University of Oregon that January, accused of gang rape at this school, then transferred to Northwest Florida State with a scholarship this past July.  Two students athletes accused of rape at Virginia Wesleyan were expelled, but able to transfer to other schools while staying NCAA eligible.  Hope Brinn was preparing for a disciplinary hearing with an accused student athlete when she got a phone call that the trial would not happen because the accused had transferred to ASU.

 In 2011, the federal government mandated a ramped-up sexual assault adjudication process at colleges.  Was then criticized for being “stacked against the accused”  Title IX is federal law, but gives no specific ways to handle cases, only that “colleges need a policy when handling cases” and says nothing about involving the police  In 2013, 35% of rape was reported to the police, while only 5% of rape on college campuses was reported.

Rampo college students charged with sexual assault

What can we do?  Schools should immediately contact the police to file a formal report on the sexual assault  Integrate college rape hearings with law enforcement  Ensure women that their voice matters

Works Cited  rape.html?_r=0 rape.html?_r=0  in-connection-with-campus-sexual-assault in-connection-with-campus-sexual-assault  transfer_n_ html transfer_n_ html  releases-list-of-55-colleges-universities-under-title-ix-investigations-over- handling-of-sexual-violence/2014/05/01/e0a74810-d13b-11e3-937f- d b51c_story.html