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College Student's Report of Sexual Assault Ignites Discussion

plannedparenthood.org

The head of a local rape crisis service says future victims of sexual assault may be afraid to come forward when they hear reports like the New York Timesstory highlighting the account of a Hobart and William Smith college student.

The freshman student, identified only as “Anna,” told the newspaper that the college mishandled the investigation into her alleged attack by three football players. The student says she was sexually assaulted on campus just one week into her freshman year

Mary Jo Marino, program manager at Restore Sexual Assault Services of Planned Parenthood, says the community needs to talk more and become more educated about sexual assault. Marino says it's not up to the victim to make sure such attacks don't happen.

"I think it's much larger in terms of educating the community about intervening. If somebody sees something that doesn't seem right, doesn't feel right, to step in. I think it's all of our responsibility to know that this takes place in our community and to be able to step up for one another and to do the right thing."

Marino says highly publicized incidents like the one alleged in the Times report bring attention to the issue of rape and sexual assault.  "Because the reality is, this is an issue that happens. And it happens not only on college campuses but all over our communities. So, it's a good way to shed a light on a topic that is often swept under the rug."

The Hobart and William Smith student in the Times report claims she had no advocate to speak on her behalf at a disciplinary hearing and that panelists misrepresented evidence and some of the panelists did not review medical records in the case.

The college says it was unfairly portrayed by the newspaper report and that the school has no tolerance for sexual misconduct.

Hobart and William Smith president Mark Gearan says the college is completing an audit of its approach to sexual misconduct and community standards and is expanding an office that will ensure the hearing process is equitable and fair.

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.