+
VOLUME 128 ISSUE 8
e a n st 1- P 1-
st d t o t o d. d m g r e ol-
man erg
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
"THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE IS FAILING OUR STUDENTS."
STUDY ABROA FAIR
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 10
10:30-3:30
4TH FLOOR
KANSAS UNION
HALLING CRITICIZES SEXUAL ASSAULT PROCEDURE
EMMA HALLING ACTING STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
MIRANDA DAVIS Emma Halling, acting student body president, presented a resolution to the Student Senate Rights Committee that condemns the University's handling of sexual assault cases on campus. @MirandaDavisUDK
Halling, a senior from Elkhart, Ind., who referred to the University's actions as absolutely unacceptable, is the first person affiliated with the University to speak out against current policies in place. She said that no one from the administration has contacted her since the Huffington Post article was published on Sept. 2.
When the University of Kansas doesn't expel, doesn't suspend and doesn't even submit to community service someone who is an admitted rapist, we are absolutely not fulfilling our obligation to eliminate a hostile environment for our students." Halling said.
The resolution included a call to action for the University to improve the way it handles sexual assault cases. Suggestions include hiring a victim advocate for those going through the hearing process, having mandatory sexual assault training for students and a reexamination of current policies.
"The system we have in place is failing our students," Halling said.
SEE HALLING PAGE 2A
ADMINISTRATION LACKS RESPONSE TO HUFF POST CASE
ROCHELLE VALVERDE University and Lawrence offices have not responded after coming under national scrutiny based on @chelleval
The Huffington Post artice published on Sept. 2 detailing the punishment a student received for sexual assault last year. When contacted for comment, the Alumni Association did not
return The Kansan's call Wednesday.
The Kansas Board of Regents did not return The Kansan's voice-mail Wednesday.
When contacted for comment, the Alumni Association did not return. The Kansar's call Wednesday.
The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence did not return The Kansan's voicemail Wednesday.
arrn The Kaisans can and vocational Wednesdays.
Watkins Health Center directed The Kansan to speak with the
Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access Wednesday.
Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson failed to return The Kansan's call and voicemail Wednesday.
Office of Institutions Opportunity Jane McQueeny, the executive director of IOA, said probation means that the male involved had to meet with the director of Student Conduct and Community Standards. The Office of Student Conduct determines how the University will address allegations of non-academic misconduct.
The IOA investigates each sexual assault reported and
SEE HUFFPO PAGE 10A
STUDENTS RESPOND WITH
AGREATPLACETOBEUNSAFE
ALLISON KITE
@Allie_Kite
Anger, disbelief, disappointment and horror colored students' tweets on the #AGreat-PlaceToBelInaasha hashtag on Twitter.
The hashtag, based on the University's slogan, "A great place to be..." called attention to the issues students had with the way the University handled a case of sexual assault reported in October.
The case, which placed the University on a list of 76 universities under investigation by the federal government, was recently picked up by the Huffington Post, bringing national attention.
the article reported that the man confessed to raping the woman and was punished with a required essay and counseling, expulsion from his dormitory and disassociation from his fraternity. Some students, such as Lenexa senior Michael Garrett, said the punishment is too light.
"In what other case in today's world is a rape charge going to be settled with writing an essay, being kicked out of your dormitory and going to take counseling courses?" Garrett said. "...any other place, if you rape another person, that's a huge crime, and you're going to be dealt with to the full extent of the law. Why is this a different case if there's a clear violation of the law?"
ent case if there a clear violation of the law. Garrett said he believes the issue stems from the University's
SEE TWEET PAGE 2A
EDITORIAL: ASSAULT IS NOT A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
The University administration should be ashamed at the accusations regarding the mishandling of a reported on-campus rape last year. The University Daily Kansan will seek the truth about why it happened and hold administrative bodies accountable for their actions.
Tyler Kingkade's article in the Huffington Post reports that a male student confessed to raping a female student in her dorm room after she got drunk at a fraternity party. He was found "guilty of non-consensual sexual intercourse" — which is rape
by the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access (IOA), the campus entity that primarily deals with sexual assault reporting through the University.
The article said the University proceeded by placing the student on probation, banning him from student housing, and requiring him to write a four-page reflection essay as well as seek counseling. Rachel Rolf, associate general counsel for the University, told Kingkade that community service as a punishment would be too harsh.
The decision to rid the person of community service shows a lack of obvious action in this case. It also sets the precedent that sexual assault will be treated less rigidly than violations such as
SEE EDITORIAL PAGE 2A
7
1
+