By: Brandon Whitaker
In response to numerous reports from local news outlets regarding sexual assault cases at Radford, the RU Activists Club organized a rally on Oct. 23 to demand accountability from Radford University. A crowd of hundreds including students, faculty and residents of the community gathered at the Heth clocks at four p.m.
The RU Activists provided attendees with a petition to demand accountability from the university including a list of demands. On the tables at the rally, attendees could also pick up pre written letters to numerous Virginia Senators and Delegates, as well as the Radford University Board of Visitors.
According to a report from the Roanoke Times the first demand is for a “women’s organization or law firm chosen jointly with the student body to conduct an independent investigation into the university’s Title IX Office, Office of Compliance and Office of Student Standards and Conduct.” Other demands include a formal investigation of the Sigma Chi fraternity chapter at Radford and expolsion for the students who committed sexual assault.
The Tartan met with the Jane Doe from the original report involving Sigma Chi on Oct. 23. Doe reiterated that she did not receive the results of her case with Title IX until she contacted a reporter from WDBJ7. Just a few hours after contacting the reporter, she received an email with the results of her case. The student who committed the assault received a four month suspension and was ordered to submit a 2-3 page essay, which was titled, “The Reason is Radford.”
The main speaker at the rally was Radford senior Kristina Wagner, a member of the recently formed RU Activists. The Tartan also spoke with Wagner before the rally to hear her thoughts on the rally and what she wants to see changed at Radford.
“For too long students have been given unjust outcomes from their Title IX [cases] and not given protection against those who retaliate against them.” said Wagner
“Sexual Assault is a very serious thing. It needs to be taken very seriously. Rapists can not be allowed on campus, it is an active danger to the safety of everyone who attends Radford University.”
The Tartan reached out to University media services for a statement regarding the handling of the original Jane Doe case.
Radford University is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all members of our university community. In order to protect our students, we cannot publicly confirm whether complaints have been lodged. Our students are offered a range of support services and resources designed to empower the student, promote their holistic well-being, and address their needs on or off campus. Regardless of location, these support services are available throughout the student experience, including when a student shares a complaint. Included in that network of services are the Office of the Dean of Students, Radford University Police Department, the Office of Compliance, the Office of Student Standards and Conduct, Student Counseling Services, and Substance and Violence Education Support. Students are encouraged to contact university offices or law enforcement agencies when they need assistance or wish to report a concern.
The university maintains the Standards of Student Conduct, whose policies, processes and procedures not only promote campus safety and address reports of misconduct but are designed to support student learning, personal accountability, and positive community membership. We prioritize the protection of our students’ privacy, so we are unable to comment on specific student matters or alleged incidents involving students. Federal student privacy law, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), protects the privacy of student education records and personally identifiable student information, including information related to student conduct and disciplinary matters.
Members of the RU activists met with President Bret Danilowicz to discuss their demands before the rally. The members claim that when they shared their demands, he responded that he “couldn’t make any promises.”
The Tartan will continue to monitor these cases and provide updates to the student body. If you would like to watch recordings of the rally visit @rutartan on Instagram.
