Last Sunday I posted a diary dealing with issues about the way that incidents of rape get handled by college campuses. Today there is a new story about the University of Connecticut entering into a settlement agreement with five women who have some pretty depressing stories about their efforts to seek justice and safety.
University of Connecticut settles sex assault case with five women • School pays out $900,000 but does not admit wrongdoing • Students say their claims were met with indifference
The University of Connecticut has settled a federal lawsuit filed by five women who claimed the school responded to their sexual assault complaints with indifference.
The bulk of the settlement, $900,000 (£530,000), will go to a former UConn hockey player who joined the Title IX lawsuit last December, a month after it was originally filed by four other women. She alleged she was kicked off the team after reporting she had been raped by a male hockey player in August 2011.
The other four women will receive payments ranging from $125,000 to $25,000.
The school, which has repeatedly defended its policies for responding to sexual assault complaints, did not admit any wrongdoing.
Instead they responded with well oiled PR spin.
"It was clear to all parties that no good would have come from dragging this out for years as it consumed the time, attention and resources — both financial and emotional — of everyone involved," said Larry McHugh, the chairman of the school's board of trustees. "In order to do this, compromise was required on both sides, which is reflected in the settlement. I hope this resolution will help the students find closure on this issue."
The plaintiffs in this action were represented by
Gloria Allred who has long been a highly visible advocate for women's issues.
The US Education Department's Office for Civil Rights began a Title IX investigation in December based on complaints filed by four of the plaintiffs and three other women. That investigation, which could include the loss of federal funds for the school, continues even though these four women also have withdrawn their complaint to the Education Department.
One plaintiff, Kylie Angell, said she was told by a police officer that, "Women need to stop spreading their legs like peanut butter or rape is going to keep happening until the cows come home."
This is an issue that keeps coming up on college campuses all across the nation. Colleges have traditionally tried to deal with what is a criminal offence as an internal disciplinary matter. They are often able to persuade women students not to file criminal complaints with police by holding out the prospect of a less stressful and more private proceeding. All too often the primary focus of college officials is on making a nasty problem go away before it can damage the institution's reputation.