Alleged rapist appeals decision

The male student asked to return to classes despite his suspension. The first-year male Medical student accused of acquaintance rape has asked the Medical School to allow him to return to classes despite his suspension last week. Operating with the consent of the male student, the Medical School removed him from classes last Tuesday, spokesperson Rebecca Harmon said. According to Harmon, his recent request has "been taken under advisement." "However, at this time, the temporary leave of absence remains in place," she added. The school suspended the male after a female first-year student publicly accused her classmate of rape at a meeting of the Women Medical Student Association last Monday. The announcement prompted a 15-minute sit-in in the Medical School's main office in Stemmler Hall. Responding to the sit-in, Medical School Vice Dean for Education Gail Morrison held a meeting last Tuesday to allay student concerns. The female Medical student filed charges against her classmate through the Medical School's judicial system on November 19. She has not filed criminal charges, according to Harmon. Harmon said the decision to ban the student from classes was not a punishment or an indication of guilt. She added that at the time, the male student had indicated he was "more comfortable staying away from classes." His discomfort, she noted, may have stemmed from students who were jumping to conclusions about the case. But since then, the alleged perpetrator has expressed a desire to return to classes. By discussing her case at last Monday's meeting, the alleged victim violated the confidentiality clause in the school's judicial process, and therefore may be tried under the same judicial process as her alleged attacker. Harmon said she could not comment as to whether charges would be brought against the female student, citing the same confidentiality clause. "She did understand that the matter was to be kept confidential," Harmon said. "At the time of her meeting with the vice dean for education, she was handed a copy of the judicial code and was walked through it step by step." Second-year Medical student Vicki Noble, co-chairperson of the Women's Medical Students Association, said someone called her co-chairperson to "let her know that [the alleged victim] wanted some time to speak at the meeting." Noble said she believed the woman came before the group in search of support. Harmon said she was unable to comment about the case's current status. After charges were filed and nothing was initially resolved, Morrison initiated an internal investigation in accordance with the School's Policy of Governing Medical Student Academic Progress and Conduct. The process requires Morrison to select an investigative officer to compile the available information and decide what evidence will be presented at an internal hearing. A hearing panel comprised of students and faculty will then hear all arguments. After the panel presents its findings and gives a recommendation, Morrison will make a final decision. Second-year Medical student Louis Littman, who serves as his class's co-chairperson in the Medical Student Government, said last week that he approached the school's administration before Monday's announcement in response to several complaints about the handling of the case. After speaking with administrators, Littman said he discovered "the majority of complaints were miscommunication and stuff that was taken way out of context." "It looked like they handled it by the book," he added. But some students at Monday's meeting were upset by what they interpreted as inaction by the school's administrators. "It looked like there was a group of students who were out for a witch hunt," Littman said. Medical School Government President Sara Slattery said the "perception of the students present at meeting was that the administration had handled it incorrectly." "The female student felt that the lines of communication had broken down but in actuality, administration was working for the student," the fourth-year Medical student explained. "But because there are two students involved, they can't take sides." Harmon said some student complaints stemmed from hearing only one side of the story. "It is a very emotional topic that we are dealing with," Harmon said. "That just goes to prove how important? it is to maintain confidentiality." Morrison held the unprecedented open meeting with students last Tuesday in response to those who did not understand how the case was proceeding through the judicial process, Harmon said. "It became obvious to Dr. Morrison that she had to describe the process so that students would know that, in fact, we had responded immediately," she said.