Around 300 students rallied at University Of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Friday, to show support for a sophomore student, Landen Gambill, who is charged with an Honor Code violation of creating an 'intimidating environment' for her ex-boyfriend.
During the rally, Gambill spoke about the need to make amendments in the university's policies on rape victims.
"I have been treated with great injustice, but there are so many others who've been treated just as poorly as I have, or even worse."
When she approached a UNC administrator to report the assault, Gambill was discouraged from seeking criminal charges. Hence, she knocked the doors of the university's student-run honor court
Gambill's ex-boyfriend was proved not guilty of sexual misconduct by the court that includes one administrator, two faculty members and two students.
John Gresham, the ex-boyfriend's attorney, told The Herald Sun that the court spent 20 hours over two days hearing the evidence before announcing its decision. Also Gambill had the opportunity to question the board's decision, but did not do so.
Gambill said that the reason behind organising this rally was to create a safe haven for sexual assault survivors, where they are believed, supported and protected.
She said that the march was also undertaken for students to help express their concerns at the university without being blamed as false accusers or charged with honor code violation.
Meanwhile, Gambill and other five women have approached the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education to review underreporting and inaction by the university on sexual assaults.
They allege that the university violated the rights of sexual assault victims and created an unfriendly environment for sexual assault victims
The UNC officials said that the court stopped handling sexual assault cases following new guideline on sexual assaults and harassment cases by the Department of Education (DOE), which includes reviewing their current policies.
In the light of this event, the university has hired an expert to make sure that the university is using best policies and procedures on sexual assault cases.
"Sexual assault is intolerable - at Carolina or anywhere else," UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp, told News Observer. "We are committed to responding effectively and fairly if sexual misconduct occurs. We are continuing to make the improvements necessary to have the best possible approach to addressing these issues.
