<p>A female student was raped on campus. Boy was expelled by their university after a Student Conduct Hearing. Not sure what they referred to it as - I find 'rape' to be quite fitting but 'sexual assault' seems to be the current term. Urine is not back from state lab but we're quite sure that he put something in her drink. She wasn't drunk - as a matter of fact, the hospital didn't draw her blood because they didn't think that she was drunk. Big bummer for us - the proof would have been great. He is now a student full-time at another large university. Once his transcript was updated, does anyone know if it would have said 'expelled' or 'expelled/sexual assault'? I don't understand how he got accepted at another school without even having to take a semester off. I would just like to know what information is provided on the transcript of an expelled student. There is a huge difference between, say, cheating on a test and rape. His behavior makes him a danger to the women on campus. All specialists that we have talked with say that he fits the profile of a man who will do it again. I cannot believe that his current university has not kicked him out of school - he's an incredible liability. Any information on transcripts would be so appreciated. I feel as though he barely suffered as he finished the fall semester at one school and started the spring semester at another school. Meanwhile the poor victim is in therapy, taking anti-depressants, nightmares, test anxiety. I'm about ready to go to the media.</p>
<p>Schools have their own admissions policies and that information is generally private - you are never going to find out why, exactly, this person was admitted to whatever university.</p>
<p>It’s not likely that a university would stamp “sexual assault” on the transcript of someone who has never been convicted of that crime in a court of law. “Expelled for misconduct,” perhaps. Most universities would require disclosing such punishments on any admissions application, but that is not necessarily an automatic bar to admission.</p>
<p>Beyond that, this sounds like a legal matter that should be left to the courts and judicial system. The student in question is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Absent a conviction or admission of guilt, I’m not comfortable with placing a scarlet letter on someone’s life.</p>
<p>Has the student in question been convicted of a crime in a court of law (as opposed to a university student conduct committee)?</p>
<p>Me being the mom I am would anonymously send a warning to the campus police of new college, saying hey, keep an eye out</p>
<p>I would expect the transcript to list the academic work completed, and not to include details from an administrative hearing.
Why was this incident handled by the college instead of the police?</p>
<p>Local police are much slower to get moving. Our understanding is that they don’t like rape and domestic abuse cases. We’re staying after them though. College has a judicial process to decide what to do with a student who has ‘messed up’. Legal process is much slower and would rather avoid it all together.</p>
<p>Not yet, but things are moving along albeit slowly.</p>
<p>I do understand that the university judicial system is not near the same as the legal system. That said, when a student rapes another student (using drugs), you would think that another college would appreciate a bit of a heads up - you know - you might not want this kid at your school - he could be a ticking bomb. I understand that it would likely not be documented but just an off the record warning. Scarlet letter wouldn’t bother me at all for him, but I know a great deal about the events of the evening.</p>
<p>There should be a sex crimes unit within the local police department, with trained police officers and prosecutors. If a rape kit was done at the hospital, then that evidence forms the basis of a prosecution.
On the other hand, an “off the record warning” without a conviction seems unwarranted if there was no criminal process.</p>
<p>It’s a small college town, and not exactly boasting a police department like we see on CSI. Lunch breaks are more important it seems. Rape kit was done but blood was not drawn - nurse told the ER Director that the victim didn’t seem drunk. It would have been great to have had that evidence. Urine is still at the state lab and a full drug screen was not ordered; we’re in process of trying to get that changed. We meet with the D.A. tomorrow to try to get him to listen to the new evidence (student conduct hearing recording - nine people testified for victim, none for assailant) that he has. The recording fills in gaps in the surveillance videos that he has from the university - really, in a bit of a jaw dropping way. It’s more like we’re up against a not-so-savvy legal system rather than working with them. Pressing charges is the goal but the system is riding on a slow-moving train.</p>
<p>Oh, the local hospital has not been trained as to the correct protocol to take with rape victims either - it’s a small college town as I said. Many of these smaller town hospitals, we’ve learned, haven’t been through this training. So, they do their best and call it good.</p>
<p>It’s like denial to not do the training of hospital and police. Cause it happens to girls, seems they don’t deem it important. So sad indeed. The girls at that college need to insist on the hospital get the training. I am sure this wasn’t this creeps first assault.</p>
<p>Good for you, SM, to pursue this. With no one speaking up, things will just go as usual.</p>
<p>The administration wouldn’t tell you what was on the particular student’s transcript, of course. But don’t they have a policy regarding notations for expelled students?</p>
<p>I think that the hospital may have gone through the proper training since - maybe not had a forensic sexual assault specialist come in yet, but at least put a protocol together. We’ve been told that the guy does fit the profile of a kid who will do it again or who has done it before. If there is a policy about notations for expelled students’ transcripts, we can’t find out what it is. Universities really want to keep things quiet, quiet as can be and out of the news.</p>
<p>Student records (and that includes transcripts) are protected by federal law - FERPA. Universities are not going to talk about student discipline and what is or is not on a transcript without a court order.</p>
<p>How is it that the urinalysis isn’t back yet but he’s already in another school? He was able to finish the semester and transfer - and lab results still aren’t back?</p>
<p>How a college handles assault and harassment depends on it’s own stated policies. Title IX covers this. The college must respond to the accusation, whether or not a poice report is filed or the police take action. All schools are supposed to have policies, under whatever name- Code of Conduct, etc- that dictate how the case will be researched, pursued and judged. The victim is allowed- encouraged- to report to the police and her (or sometimes his) safety is supposed to be paramount. But, Title IX also reflects privacy protections for the accused, until some judgement is made. Colleges have a variey of ways the handle these cases. Some are effective, some are not. Once parents of sons catch this thread, you may see the strong emotions they bring to this discussion. </p>
<p>If this young man has not been convicted…</p>
<p>If you haven’t seen this, it may give you an idea of the college’s role and responsibilities. Pull up the Letter PDF. <a href=“http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201104.html[/url]”>http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201104.html</a></p>
<p>Ferpa may protect him, at this point. You also want to look into the Clery Act, which covers disclosure.</p>
<p>Now that I look back, I see that you were part of that other thread that argued about Title IX. And, that a lawyer is involved-? That’s the expert who can discuss whether it’s allowable to inform others before he is convicted.</p>
<p>Lookingforward, this is all part of the same. I’ve done a whole lot of research since October. Several lawyers at this point, but I’m not sure that the small town police/legal department are going to make the effort to push this through to the grand jury. I think that a lot is being said behind closed doors and nobody, other than our family and friends, wants this to ever go to trial. Media attention I’m guessing? They don’t want it so keeping it out of court is likely the best way to avoid it. I have read up on the Clery Act but will check out the other site that you mentioned. Thank you. I have a text book on drug facilitated sexual assault too that is quite interesting. I just need to prepare myself to let this go if we get beat back down and they won’t take it to the Grand Jury.</p>
<p>Yes, I have a copy of the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter in my file. Thank you for pointing it out though - As much as I’ve researched I have no doubt that I’ve missed things that could be helpful. As for the urine lab results not being back yet. We’ve heard several excuses from the D.A. and the Police Chief - backlog at the lab, other cases that are much more important, all kinds of reasons/excuses have been provided.Very frustrating.</p>
<p>I am so sorry.
I hope she’s with a therapist she really clicks with. Mine had other issues and the counselor DH and I loved turned out to be so wrong for my girl. We moved her to one who specialized in college-age kids. At that stage of a kid’s life, a counselor with a particular talent for understanding this age group and reaching them is good.</p>