HARTFORD, Conn. ― Four women who say they were sexually assaulted as University of Connecticut students told state lawmakers Wednesday that they were further traumatized by the school’s lack of support and called on the university to change its approach to sexual violence.
Carolyn Luby, a fifth-year student, said there is a pattern of behavior among school leaders “that shows a failure to take action and downright resistance” to complaints of sexual assault and harassment on campus.
“The responsibility for taking a stand on these issues should not fall on the shoulders of college students who are survivors,” Luby told members of the General Assembly’s Higher Education and Public Safety Committees. “Administrators with power must start prioritizing safety of their students. It is long overdue for them to do this. And we want them to begin today.”
The legislative committees are reviewing sexual assault prevention and response procedures at Connecticut colleges and universities, not just UConn. Lawmakers said they are looking into whether they need to pass additional legislation when the new session begins in February.
Earlier this month, the four women from UConn filed a federal lawsuit against UConn alleging the school failed to protect them and responded with deliberate indifference or worse. They are among seven students and recent graduates who last month filed a civil rights complaint against the school. They are represented by nationally known civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, who appeared at Wednesday’s hearing.
The Associated Press does not normally report the names of those filing sexual assault complaints, but the women involved have asked that their names be used.
Several UConn officials also were on hand and listed the numerous programs and offices available to sexual assault victims, as well as the policies and procedures including a student code of conduct that are followed to prevent abuse and address the needs of victims.
