Arizona State University Thinks Expulsion is "Too Severe" a Punishment for Rape
(one does wonder what is hiding in the closets of those administrators)
Arizona State University Thinks Expulsion is Too Severe a Punishment for Rape
On March 31, Arizona State University student Brooke Lewis was raped by another student. Afterward, she reported the assault to the police, who are conducting an ongoing investigation, as well as ASUs Title IX teamwhich found the assaulter responsible for sexual misconduct and called for his expulsion. In a rare instance, however, the university hearing board is arguing against its own institutions advice.
Fibonacci Blue / Creative Commons
Calling Lewis rapist an essential member of a research team, the board declared that his 3.9 GPA is reason enough to excuse him for his behavior and let him continue to attend ASU; they ruled that being expelled for raping his classmate is too severe a punishment, and recommended instead that Lewis attacker receive a two-year suspension and be forced to take a course on sexual misconduct. The assaulterwho is being referred to as Jamesalso pushed back against the Title IX administrators call for his expulsion. He appealed the universitys initial decision, arguing that the school had little evidence and calling Lewis claims unsubstantiated allegations. To no doubt make his misconduct seem out of character, James also thought it important to release a statement speaking to his support of womens rights. I am an advocate of gender equality, including equal opportunity, equal pay for equal work and access to essential, basic healthcare for women, he wrote, warning seconds later, however, that there is an over-compensation where the pendulum swings too far in the opposite direction and creates another injustice.
College students nationwide know all too well that the pendulum isnt swinging in that directionespecially at ASU. Jasmine Lester, founder of the university group Sun Devils Against Sexual Assault, noted in an email to Ms. that only 1.69 percent of reported cases of rape and sexual harassmentor 62 of 3,660 caseswere charged during the last full school year, leaving thousands of reported sexual predators free to re-offend without consequence. She added that ASU has a troubling history of inaction on this issue, tracing back at least five years and undoubtedly more. ASU has been under federal investigation for violating Title IX since 2012, Lester told Ms., has been sued multiple times for protecting rapists and made national news for protecting faculty sexual predators in 2014.
The landscape Lewis faces shows little signs of progress. Staff and administrators have mistreated her, according to reports from her peers, and the school has failed to provide her with adequate academic and mental health accommodations in the wake of her rape. Even before Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos scaled back Title IX guidelines this year for handling instances of rape and sexual violence, students werent adequately protected from sexual assault on college campuses, Michele Sleighel and Carmen Linero-Lopez, organizers for the Feminist Majority Foundations CHOICES Campus Leadership Program, told Ms. Reporting, investigative and disciplinary processes are often confusing and inadequate, which can discourage students from coming forward. Now that the federal government has abandoned students who survive sexual assault on campuses, student leaders are making their voices heard as they demand protection for themselves and their communities.
The final decision on Jamess punishment is in the hands of Senior Vice President for Educational Outreach and Student Services, James Rundwho was given less than 20 business days to consider the appeal boards recommendation and decide whether or not to uphold the universitys expulsion. (That leaves him, at time of publishing, with around a week to decide.) Lesters group is spearheading a petition to Rund demanding that he expel Lewis attacker.
http://msmagazine.com/blog/2017/12/11/arizona-state-university-thinks-expulsion-severe-punishment-rape/
bluescribbler
(2,117 posts)K&R
BlueAZure
(19 posts)I think their admission status should be put "on hold", and they should be automatically re-admitted right after complete ing their life sentence.
world wide wally
(21,744 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)The only guaranteed 100% cause for expulsion is not paying tuition on time... Everything else (and I do mean *everything*) is at least open for negotiation...
Orrex
(63,214 posts)If the rapist had raped a member of the board, or a daughter/sibling/wife of a member of the board, would he still be given the 3.9 waiver?
Orrex
(63,214 posts)If you're not going to expel that fucker, then put an ankle bracelet on him and bar him from coming within 500 yards of his victim.
Forbid him to have any social media contact with her.
Bar him from entering any residence owned or subsidized by the university.
Make him 100% responsible for the full balance of her tuition, even if he leaves the university voluntarily or otherwise.
Penalize his overall GPA by 1 or 2 or 3 points.
Withhold or drastically reduce any stipends or scholarships he's receiving from the university.
Register him in a publicly accessible campus registry of sex offenders.
I could go on...
niyad
(113,329 posts)Orrex
(63,214 posts)Here's two more luddite measures, while I'm at it:
Bar him from attending on-campus sports or sports-related functions, other than phys ed classes.
Bar him from entering any "student union" buildings or any other social venues on campus
If he rapes another victim, then fine the university $10M for failing to address a public health hazard
He made an effort to ruin his victim's life, so it's fitting that he should at least suffer some minor inconvenience as a result.
niyad
(113,329 posts)on keeping him around.
I would add one thing--he should be made to wear a body cam that he cannot turn off.
Orrex
(63,214 posts)Not his privacy, because fuck him.
But his roommates might have grounds to object if they had nothing to do with it.
I like saddling him with some kind of tracker (the ankle bracelet mentioned above, or the like), though. It would be fair to give him some kind of visible indicator, too, as a warning to others.
Require him to wear a sign or banner identifying him as a rapist, and if he's found on-campus without it, then he's immediately subject to prison time with all other penalties remaining in effect (e.g., paying his victim's tuition, etc.)
niyad
(113,329 posts)a BIG RED "R" on a banner or velcro'd onto all his clothing.
Having committed rape, he has proven himself to be a legitimate safety concern, and other potential victims have the right to be warned.
Mosby
(16,317 posts)niyad
(113,329 posts)should be expelled. (and we know how seldom that happens!!0
I agree with you. the universities should NOT be doing criminal investigations.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Then they can talk about appropriate punishment.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,193 posts)Then he can enjoy his 3.9 in JAIL and be a registered sex offender for life.