Seven former and current University of Connecticut students have filed a Title IX complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. The complaint alleges that the women’s rights were violated by UConn after they reported instances of sexual assault on the Storrs campus.
“The officer told me women need to stop spreading their legs like peanut butter or rape is going to keep on happening until the cows come home. Shocked, I left, feeling confused, violated, traumatized and vulnerable,” UConn graduate Kylie Angell said.
The women are represented by high-profile attorney Gloria Allred. Allred told reporters that Title IX, a federal law protecting gender equality in education, was violated when UConn’s administration showed “deliberate indifference” toward her clients’ cases.
“UConn has failed to abide by the federal law which guarantees students the right to an education free from the violation of human and civil rights,” Allred said.
In response, UConn sent out a statement saying:
“The University of Connecticut takes allegations of this nature extremely seriously, as the health and well-being of our students is our top priority. Our response protocol for these and other alleged incidents of sexual assault is in line with or exceeds best practices. We always must be mindful of the rights of the accused and the accuser while upholding our commitment to protecting the safety of our campus community.
We are confident at this point that these cases were handled thoroughly, swiftly, and appropriately. Federal privacy law prohibits the University from discussing the specifics of these cases.
However, if the students involved in these cases wish to waive their privacy protection afforded by FERPA with regard to the complaints, the University would be willing to share the details of how these cases were handled, in the interest of transparency.
If there was information we did not have at the time these cases were brought forward, the University certainly would welcome that information now. Our students should reasonably expect protection and due process. They deserve the best response in the nation, and we’re committed to ensuring that right.”