The Blue and White | 02/06/2014
The first installment of this series on sexual assault at Columbia told the stories of three students who independently filed against one alleged offender, Tom. These cases highlighted the investigative and disciplinary processes outlined in the University’s Gender-Based Misconduct Policy and the frustration of students who felt betrayed by what they considered compromised standards of professionalism, promptness, and diligence promised in the Policy. **TRIGGER WARNING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS**
The second half of the series focuses on additional University resources established to support alleged victims of “gender and sexual misconduct.” These services are part of a network of education and advocacy that help students navigate issues ranging from sexual consent to sexual assault.
But according to student leaders and assault survivors, these critical additions to the on-campus assault support system are fragile and often fall short of their goals. And when survivors go beyond counseling resources to seek sanctions against their assailants, the outcome rarely fits the expectation of the “complainant.”
The five alleged respondents whose identities were disclosed to me over the course of research for this series declined requests for comment. Columbia officials denied my interview requests. Thus, this story is written solely with the cooperation of the alleged survivors. The names of all students involved have been changed to protect their privacy.
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Naomi Cohen | journalist 