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Hobart & William Smith Officials Respond To NY Times Article

Hobard and William Smith Colleges Logos

The president of Hobart and William Smith colleges says he is disheartened that the campus was the place of sorrow and tragedy for one of its students.

Mark Gearan wrote in a letter on the colleges' website about the alleged sexual assault of an 18-year old freshman whose story was featured in a recent front-page story in the New York Times.

That Times report was critical of the way the school investigated the student's claims.

Gearan says he has met with students who petitioned the colleges to change that investigatory process.  He says a group of faculty, staff, students and alums are working on a review of the procedures and will submit recommendations this summer.

The college president also says school safety measures will be reviewed, and additional training will be provided for school representatives who respond to sexual misconduct complaints.  top official with Hobart and William Smith Colleges is responding to a recent New York Times story about a reported sexual assault involving a female freshman student.

Also,the Chairwoman of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Board of Trustees, Maureen Collins Zupan, wrote a letter to the editor that was published in the Times on Tuesday. 

Maureen Collins Zupan says the college community is heartbroken by the student’s experience.  She says  that while Hobart and William Smith could have handled some things differently, it remains her opinion as a feminist, mother, daughter, sister and leader that the college handled the case properly with compassion, respect and seriousness.

Collins Zupan says despite the intense reaction to the article, Hobart and William Smith stands by the results of its process.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.