UNC Faces New Federal Investigation For Allegedly Punishing Student Who Reported Rape

The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is opening a new investigation into the UNC-Chapel Hill over allegations that UNC-Chapel Hill sophomore Landen Gambill faced retaliation for filing a federal complaint against the university, according to the Huffington Post.

Gambill’s case gained national attention after she reported a sexual assault to the school and was later charged with a school honor code violation.

The university now faces three investigations by the department, according to the Huffington Post.

“Charges include complaints that UNC-Chapel Hill allegedly created a hostile climate for sexual assault survivors, failed to properly adjudicate rape at the school and that officials allegedly underreported sexual misconduct on campus.”

PressTV reported:

“The third OCR investigation will consider whether the February honor code charge against Gambill was retaliation, the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., reports. Gambill was one of five women who filed federal complaints against UNC-Chapel Hill in January, which spurred the first two investigations by the department.”

UNC-Chapel Hill spokeswoman Karen Moon told The Huffington Post in an email, “The University is reviewing the matter and will cooperate fully with OCR’s investigation.”

After the honor code charge, the university commissioned Rutgers University professor Barbara Lee to review the situation. Lee concluded there was no retaliation but did find significant problems with the honor court system.

Henry Clay Turner, Gambill’s attorney, believes the federal investigation is warranted.

“Retaliation doesn’t always have to be bad acts; it can be a failure to act,” Turner told the Huffington Post.

“As part of the third investigation, the OCR will also consider whether the university retaliated against Gambill when administrators moved her ex-boyfriend, who was found by the honor court to have sexually harassed her, to a dormitory located near Gambill’s residence, according to the News & Observer.”

Do you think this new investigation into the UNC sexual assault case of Landen Gambill will result in any new outcomes?

[Image by Jenny Warburg via Ms. Magazine.com]