Students call for change in sexual assault policies

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Tags:

unc, local/state

CHAPEL HILL (WTVD) -- Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are calling on administrators to change the university's sexual assault policies and procedures.

Despite rain Wednesday, dozens of students rallied in front of the chancellor's office and asked for additional training of staff, the creation of a new department focused on Title IX gender issues on campus, as well as a performance review of key administrators.

It all comes after a federal complaint was filed against the university for its handling of sexual assault cases. The complaint is now part of a federal investigation.

Some have said victims are either ignored or discouraged to seek help.

"I demand that the administrators of this university stop protecting rapists ... the university knows who and what they are, but they're still here because certain university administrators are protecting them," UNC student Landen Gambill said.

The university has said it's taking a second look at its policies, but has denied underreporting rape cases.