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Sexual assault reported within first two weeks of academic year BY MADISON DUDLEY Managing Editor news@thedepauw.com
*This article contains some content which may be disturbing or triggering to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.* Angel Torres was a student at DePauw University for just two weeks before she was sexually assaulted in her dorm room. Her case was the first reported sexual assault of the 2016-2017 academic year. Her alleged attacker was an upperclassman male whom she considered a friend. The situation started with a text after midnight on Sept. 6, in which he asked her to “come kiss him.” He said he hadn’t been drinking and she believed him. “I took him at his word,” Torres said. He came to her room in her first-year residence hall. She made it clear to him that nothing else would happen, but the situation escalated without her consent. “I kept telling him no, I didn’t want anything else to happen,” Torres said. She told him to stop, and he continued. Torres could sense the situation was not going the way she wanted it to, and her efforts focused on escaping her dorm room. “He wouldn’t let
me go,” Torres said. TorThe results of the investires says her alleged attacker gation were shared with both violated her, touching her the victim, Torres, and her repeatedly in uncomfortable accused attacker, and now ways without her consent. these findings are being exTorres was able to get amined by Title IX to deterher cell phone and message mine if the accused is responher friends and roommate for sible. If the accused attacker help. When her friends came is found guilty, the Dean of into the room minutes later, Students, Myrna Hernandez, Torres’s alleged attacker was will issue the statements of still in the room. “He was punishment. Both the vicmotionless, he tim and the was just sitaccused will ting there like “I kept telling have the opa robot,” Torportunity to him no, I res said. appeal the After he didn’t want to outcome. left, Torres’s The secresident assis- anything else ond part of tants came and to happen. He the process, Public Safety where the was called. wouldn’t let me report is re“That was the go. viewed to see point I started if it fits within - Angel Torres, first-year Title IX juristo break down e m o t i o n a l l y, ” diction, is an she said, “I addition to the could barely even talk to the Title IX process as of this officer.” academic year. For over a month since “The whole process should this incident took place, Tor- take 60 days,” said Renee res has been waiting to hear Madison, DePauw Univerabout the fate of her alleged sity’s Title IX coordinator. attacker. From the time Pub- “I’m really hoping that this lic Safety was called, Tor- makes our process more time res’s case entered a five-part efficient.” system under Title IX. TorTorres is satisfied so res’s case was first reported, far with the attention she then it was examined to see has been given by Title IX. if there was a break in Title “They’ve helped me from the IX policy. It was determined start,” she said, “There’s an there was, so a formal inves- active process they’re foltigation began, spearheaded lowing.” by Public Safety. The most extreme sanc-
tion that can be delivered to a student is expulsion and not being permitted to enter campus. “I don’t want a student ever to feel like we let them down in a process,” Madison said. Despite the 60 day turnaround, Torres still sees her alleged attacker regularly, causing her panic attacks. “To see your attacker on campus every day is traumatizing,” said senior Christina Seung, president of Code Teal, DePauw’s sexual assault awareness campaign.
Seung does not feel the University takes the safety of women and sexual assault seriously enough and wants to see more resources and care put into protecting students. “It’s just frustrating to see the University do so little,” Seung said. Seung believes one of the best ways to prevent sexual assault is to educate and discuss what consent is as well as how to respect personal boundaries. “This is not how I wanted CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
IF A SEXUAL ASSAULT OCCURS - Call 911 or public safety immediately at 765-658-5555. - Sexual Assault Survivors Advocates (SASA) 24/7 at 765-658-4650
- Surviving is Thriving group counseling for sexual assault victims on Fridays from 10:30 a.m.- noon.