A large group of Stanford University students rallied Thursday to support a female undergraduate who has publically criticized the school's sexual assault policies after she was a victim of rape earlier this year.
Stanford senior Leah Francis' account of navigating the university administration after reporting a sexual assault by another student — and their seemingly lenient ruling after he was found guilty — is quickly making its way around campus as a viral email, student newspaper The Stanford Daily reports. According to documents obtained by The Daily, the university found Francis' rapist guilty of forced sexual assault.
"His punishment was a five-quarter suspension, 40 hours of community service and completion of a sexual assault awareness program. However, the suspension does not take effect until summer 2014 and includes summer quarters, so Francis’ assailant, a member of the Class of 2014, can graduate on time and return in a year for graduate school," according to The Daily.
Additionally, Francis told the newspaper that her rapist was initially going to be allowed to walk during the university's Commencement, which was reversed after she complained to Stanford's Title IX coordinator.
You can read the full decision against Francis' rapist via The Daily.
Many Stanford students rallied on Thursday to support Francis, using the hashtag #StandWithLeah:
#StandWithLeah. Students are arriving to create signs! @Stanford#NerdNationpic.twitter.com/FKro3oZjv9
— Brianne Huntsman (@ceohunty) June 5, 2014We #StandWithLeah because everyone deserves to feel safe where they are @Stanfordpic.twitter.com/C7sAP4WpLI
— Some Of Us Are Brave (@KaelaSimone) June 5, 2014#standwithleah#stanfordpic.twitter.com/drFkILFDJr
— Andie Grossman (@andiejg) June 5, 2014I #standwithleah. Will you, Stanford? pic.twitter.com/JUMOzUGfxD
— Ryan Globus (@ryanglobus) June 5, 2014Rally for reforming sexual violence resources & policy at Stanford #StandWithLeahpic.twitter.com/7wVKtZMaxS
— Polishanya (@Polishanya) June 5, 2014I #StandWithLeah because justice delayed is justice denied pic.twitter.com/UEj8vFOzkg
— Emma J (@emmanating) June 5, 2014Here is an excerpt of Francis' email, which you can read in full via The Stanford Daily:
Dear Fellow Stanford Students, Classmates, and Staff:
Five months ago, I was forcibly raped by another Stanford student. I reported the sexual assault at the beginning of Winter quarter and then I proceeded to go through the ARP (Alternative Review Process). Months later, the student who raped me was found by Stanford to be responsible for sexually assaulting me through use of force.
Stanford did not expel the man who raped me. They suspended him effective 2014 Summer quarter so that he could finish his classes and walk at graduation. They also moved him out of Stanford housing, required that he complete community service, and required that he complete a sexual assault awareness program before receiving his degree or coming back to Stanford for grad school.
What this amounts to:
After his suspension (gap year) is complete, Stanford invites my rapist back to campus for grad school (where he has already been accepted) as long as he agrees to do community service and complete a sexual assault awareness course. Should he change his mind and decide to go to grad school elsewhere, he can choose to walk away from Stanford with no significant undergraduate consequences for forcibly assaulting me.
Stanford Strategic Communications Senior Director Brad Hayward sent the following statement to Business Insider:
Stanford cannot discuss a specific student's case or comment on a pending matter.
We regret any circumstance in which a student believes a process here at Stanford has not met their expectations. We take very seriously the pain and trauma that are generated by sexual assault. We have strengthened our programs in the area of sexual assault response and prevention over the last several years, seeking to provide support to individuals in crisis, encourage reporting, ensure fair and thorough disciplinary processes, and educate the community to prevent future incidents. But we are always looking to improve what we do, and we genuinely welcome input from students on how we can do better.
Stanford absolutely must be a safe and respectful environment for all students to pursue their education. The University has just hired a new Title IX Coordinator to coordinate activities and help identify areas for improvement. She will be gathering input from across the Stanford community and recommending additional things for us to be doing. The feedback being provided by students now will help inform that process.
Expulsion currently is one of a range of potential outcomes of the disciplinary process for cases of sexual assault at Stanford, and we are discussing the option of imposing it as the presumptive outcome when there is a finding of forcible sexual assault. We look forward to discussing this possibility further with students and others.
The rally's student organizers also released a statement Thursday, published below:
Stanford students have organized a rally led by Leah Francis, a student who wrote a letter addressing the Stanford community Tuesday night about her experiences with reporting and pursuing a case of forcible sexual assault against her. Leah's story is not rare — and students will be joining on Thursday at noon to demand administrators take action. Oftentimes, an assailant has to leave campus temporarily and then is able to come back.
Five months ago, Leah was forcibly raped by another Stanford student. She reported the sexual assault at the beginning of Winter quarter and then she proceeded to go through the ARP (Alternate Review Process). Months later, the student who raped Leah was found by Stanford to be responsible for sexually assaulting her through use of force. Stanford did not expel the man who raped Leah. They suspended him effective 2014 Summer quarter so that he could finish his classes and receive his degree. Stanford also moved him out of Stanford housing, required that he complete community service, and required that he complete a sexual assault awareness program before receiving his degree or coming back to Stanford for graduate school.
Students have planned a rally around Leah and have made the following demands of the administration:
- Mandatory expulsion for individuals found responsible of sexual assault (following the example of Dartmouth, Amherst, and Duke)
- Better enforcement of sanctions for assailants to comply with Title IX
- Expanded mandatory education on definitions, consent and bystander intervention for all undergraduates
- Increase Sexual Assault and Relationship Abuse Office for Education and Outreach capacity by hiring more staff
- Better resources for survivors throughout their chosen process, including safety measures and academic support