Managing Editor: Lilly Lafleur

Email: Llafleur@umassd.edu

Content Warning: This article contains content related to sexual assault.

Since the academic year began, universities nationwide have been forced to confront their handling of sexual assault allegations. In a constantly shifting legal environment, it can be hard to keep up with how these policies impact students on the ground.

The recent developments in the Cornell 7 case are particularly troubling, highlighting major flaws in how universities protect their communities.

At Cornell University, a survivor identified as Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit alleging that seven Chi Phi fraternity members- Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar- drugged and assaulted her in October 2024.

Despite detailed accounts provided to campus authorities and police, local prosecutors initially declined to press charges against the accused men. It took two years and a high profile civil lawsuit for the case to finally receive the attention it deserved.

Only after immense public pressure and media scrutiny did the New York Governor Kathy Hochul appoint Attorney General Letita James as a special prosecutor to review the case this fall.

The situation has sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests and a temporary ban on social activities at the university. It serves as a stark reminder of the hypermasculine culture that often shields perpetrators from facing real consequences.

The Local Reality

While the national media fixates on Ivy League scandals and fraternity culture, students at UMass Dartmouth are questioning whether our own institution is equipped to protect its community.

A pervasive rape culture does not only exist at large state schools or historic fraternities. With sexual assault making up 43% of on-campus crimes, it is sustained wherever institutions fail to hold perpetrators accountable and prioritize their own reputations over student safety.

To understand the reality of Title IX on our campus, we reached out to students to hear their own stories firsthand. The responses received paint a disturbing picture of negligence by the very offices designed to help victims navigate these traumatic experiences. For many survivors, the process of reporting feels like hitting a brick wall.

One anonymous survivor shared how they feel jurisdictional boundaries were used as an excuse to avoid taking action. When they tried to report their experience, they reported they were met with a lack of support because the assault did not occur on university property.

“I was essentially dismissed and told that there was not much that could be done about it,” the student said regarding their off campus assault.

They expressed deep frustration over the way their case was handled by those in power. They noted they had turned eighteen just two months before the incident occurred, making the lack of guidance even more isolating. This kind of dismissal can leave students feeling abandoned by the community they trusted to protect them.

Unfortunately, according to another survivor, the lack of support is not limited to incidents that happen away from university property.

Another anonymous survivor detailed their experience as a freshman in a dorm that was met with outright evasion by campus authorities. The student reported being in a sophomore’s dorm room where they were repeatedly pressured and physically backed into a wall.

“After saying no so many times, [they] started to get physically aggressive, I was so scared that I just let it happen,” the survivor said.

After leaving the dorm room in a stunned state, the student eventually confided in a friend who reported the incident to a resident assistant. As a mandated reporter, the resident assistant escalated the issue and advised the victim to do the same.

However, when the student reached out to the campus police, they reported being met with silence and unreturned phone calls. The student stated that they were told a sergeant would call them back in a few minutes, but that call never came. This initial fault by law enforcement set the tone for the rest of the experience with the university’s reporting system.

The situation only worsened when the survivor tried to seek help from the school’s Title IX victim advocate. Instead of receiving support and guidance on how to navigate the complex legal and administrative systems, the student felt actively discouraged from pursuing a formal investigation.

“That was their main focus, on steering me away from an official report, and they succeeded,” the survivor said.

According to the student, the advocate eventually stopped responding to emails entirely, and a scheduled meeting between the student and the advocate never took place. The survivor reported being told by other campus resources to consider the career and future of the person who assaulted them.

“I was told countless times to ‘think about his career and future’ well what about my future?,” the student said.

University Response

The Torch reached out to UMass Dartmouth Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications & Media Relations, Ryan Merill, for the University’s perspective on student concerns.

In response to ongoing affairs regarding campus safety and the handling of reports, it was stated that the institution is, “committed to maintaining a safe and supportive campus environment through professionally trained investigators, comprehensive survivor support, coordinated procedures, and appropriate accountability measures.”

Merill stated on behalf of the university that the administration recognizes “the importance of treating every report seriously, respecting the rights of all individuals involved, and maintaining community trust throughout the process.”

According to the university, the police department currently has “four officers who have completed the Massachusetts Sexual Assault Investigator Certification Course,” which “strengthens investigative and response capabilities.”

When an investigation begins, the department “first addresses safety concerns, facilitates medical assistance, preserves evidence, and connects survivors with appropriate resources.”

Furthermore, the university highlights that the Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality “has a dedicated Confidential Victim Advocate who is available to provide support, advocacy, and assistance throughout the process.”

It was also noted that every investigation is “actively reviewed to ensure all procedures are followed, appropriate support services are offered, and when circumstances warrant, the process is conducted in active collaboration with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, medical professionals, victim/support advocates, and/or university officials.”

While the department prioritizes “a thorough, trauma-informed investigation while protecting an individual’s privacy, dignity, and rights,” they also note that “confidentiality requirements, privacy laws, and the integrity of ongoing investigations may limit the specific information that can be publicly shared.”

The Cornell 7 case proves it should not take a viral media campaign, protests, or the intervention of a state attorney general to force a university to take sexual assault seriously. Schools must proactively support victims from the moment a report is filed.

If UMass Dartmouth hopes to create a safe environment and dismantle rape culture, the university must listen to these student voices and reform its practices. It takes immense courage to come forward, and every student deserves response and support from their institution. Until the university prioritizes the well being of survivors over the reputation of the school or the future of the accused, victims may continue to suffer in silence.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of assault or harassment of any kind, there are resources available at UMass Dartmouth:

Office of Civil Rights | (508) 999-8810

University Police | (508) 999-8107

Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality | (508) 910-4582

Counseling Center | (508) 999-8648