Sexual Assault - The Daily Tar Heel

On May 3, 2022, students at the North Carolina School of Science and Math, in Durham, NC, sit and stand in silent protest of title IX cases and assault accusations. Students say these cases have resulted in no action by NCSSM administration.

Students at NCSSM protest how the school handles sexual assault cases

By Emmy Martin | May. 6

Silent protesters gathered at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics with signs expressing their dissatisfaction with how school leaders have handled sexual assault cases on Tuesday. The students listed their concerns and demands in an open letter to the NCSSM administration. The letter’s main grievances revolve around how the school handles reports of sexual assault and the current Title IX process, as well as how the school handles suicide attempts. Before Tuesday's protest, the students held a silent walkout on April 25. The leaders of the movement met with the administration before and after the event to discuss their concerns.

Farewell Column: UNC doesn’t protect survivors of sexual assault. I know because I am one.

By Savannah Bradley | Apr. 25

"And I do represent Carolina. I represent the one in three women that are sexually assaulted on this campus. I represent the intelligent young women who come into this institution to study and accomplish great work, only to be exorcized of all morale, their diplomas inked with pain and fear. I also represent the lucky ones; the women who barely come out of that pain alive."

Column: Three years later — healing from my sexual assault

By Rajee Ganesan | Apr. 12

"I began my undergraduate degree at a large state school in California. There, three years ago, I was the victim of a violent sexual assault."

DTH Photo Illustration. Someone views the UNC Crime Log.

Editorial: Minimal compliance with the Clery Act isn't enough

By Editorial Board | Nov. 29

"Handling sexual assault properly doesn’t mean just checking boxes and meeting minimum compliance. Handling sexual assault means being proactive, taking preventative steps before assault occurs and providing a vast array of resources for victims."

DTH File. Granville Towers is a set of off-campus residential buildings.

UNC reports 3 assaults involving same accused person over three months

By Praveena Somasundaram | Nov. 19

An Alert Carolina sent by UNC Friday said there were three sexual assaults reported between August and October involving the same accused person. There is no immediate threat at this time, according to the message.

People sit on the steps and benches in front of South Building on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2020.

Editorial: Reflecting on UNC's lack of transparency as communications staff depart

By Editorial Board | Oct. 5

"This campus should be a place of open dialogue, both in the classroom and in the community — and communications officials have a large role to play in that facilitation."

Cars drive down Franklin Street on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020.

Column: Sexual harassment on Franklin Street is a problem

By Layla Peykamian | Sep. 8

"UNC has consistently exhibited an unwillingness to put effort into keeping its students safe. For a campus infamous for its sexual assault rate, I am particularly appalled."

Rachel Valentine, executive director for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center in Chapel hill, answers the phone in an office designated for first responses to clients on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019.

Editorial: Sexual harassment and violence resources in Chapel Hill

By Editorial Board | Apr. 18, 2021

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and UNC-Chapel Hill is no stranger to the sexual assault epidemic that plagues college campuses. Here are some resources for those who have experienced gender-based harassment or violence.

(From left to right) Riley Curtis, Reiley Baker, and Amy Estrada stand in the front of the crowd at South Building during the Believe Surivors Rally Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. Demonstrators gathered at South Building to hear testimonies and proceed to march to fraternity court in support of survivors of sexual harrassment and assault.

Editorial: Not all men — but most women

By Editorial Board | Mar. 25, 2021

Now is the time for men to listen, learn and uplift female voices.

DTH Photo Illustration. As the director of Title IX compliance and coordinator at UNC Adrienne Allison prepares to step away from the role, UNC plans to expand their Title IX leadership.

UNC looks to fill roles of Title IX coordinator, senior prevention strategy officer

By Anna Neil | Mar. 21, 2021

Here's how UNC's leadership of its efforts to prevent interpersonal violence will change in the future.

DTH Photo Illustration depicting 15 file folders sitting on a table.

U.S. Supreme Court denies UNC's petition for review of Title IX records release

By Anna Neil | Jan. 19, 2021

The Supreme Court of the United States denied UNC's request to have the release of its 15 sexual assault records in August reviewed.

DTH Photo Illustration. UNC plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state court's ruling on the release of student records in Title IX cases.

UNC petitions U.S. Supreme Court to review ruling in sexual assault records case

By Anna Neil | Oct. 1, 2020

UNC filed a petition for writ of certiorari on Sept. 28, which requests the ruling in the case of DTH Media Corp. vs. Folt be sent to the U.S. Supreme Court for review.

The release of sexual assault records leaves activists asking what comes next

By Anna Neil | Aug. 30, 2020

Student activists are working toward preventing and educating UNC about sexual assault and gender-based violence. With the release of UNC's sexual assault records, here's what's next for these activists.

DTH Photo Illustration depicting a person handing over 15 file folders.

UNC released sexual assault records — what happens next?

By Anna Neil | Aug. 9, 2020

The University released the records of students found responsible for violating UNC's sexual assault policy Thursday, four years after The Daily Tar Heel and other news organizations requested them in 2016. UNC provided a total of 15 records to fulfill the request. Clery Act data shows that since 2007, there have been over 200 reported cases of sex offenses at the University. Here is what the 15 records UNC released mean now that the lawsuit has concluded, what the data shows and what the DTH plans to do next to investigate sexual assault on campus.

Lawyer Hugh Stevens presents the DTH's argument in court on Tuesday morning.

University releases 15 sexual assault records following four-year lawsuit

By Maddie Ellis | Aug. 6, 2020

Following a four-year lawsuit, the University released disciplinary records for individuals found responsible for rape, sexual assault or related acts of sexual misconduct. Here's what they show.

View of South Building from Polk Place, or the quad, on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

University delays releasing sexual assault records despite N.C. Supreme Court ruling

By Maydha Devarajan | Jul. 1, 2020

The N.C. Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision in May that UNC would be required to release the disciplinary records for individuals found responsible of committing rape, sexual assault or other acts of sexual misconduct. Two months later, the University has yet to release 11 sexual assault records.

The just-toppled confederate monument, Silent Sam, lays face-down on the ground as Chapel Hill police officers surround it and block out the crowd on Monday, August 20, 2018.

The stories that have defined UNC since 2018

By Hannah McClellan | Jun. 28, 2020

From senior leadership switch-ups to the Silent Sam saga, UNC has had its fair share of campus controversies in the past few years. Here’s what you need to know.

'It’s not on us': From UNC to the courts, restraining order enforcement raises concerns

By Cynthia Dong and Molly Weisner | Jun. 8, 2020

Both the North Carolina court system and UNC offer differing forms of no-contact orders — commonly called "restraining orders" — to victims of harassment, stalking, abuse or assault when they seek protection from their perpetrators. While each type of no-contact order varies by degree of enforcement and consequences, they all establish, on paper, measures prohibiting contact between involved individuals. But in reality, many victims have found that enforcement of these protective measures can fall on their shoulders alone, leaving them no more sense of protection than they felt before seeking official action.

Op-ed: Loud words, silent university

May. 11, 2020

"Words have consequences, and events like the IFC speaker impact our community in immeasurable ways. These words are reflective of a broader culture of violence and oppression — they normalize violent actions in our community. We are righteously outraged at this behavior by the IFC. The system must be held responsible and face consequences."

DTH Photo Illustration adapted from original DTH photograph by Hugh Morton in 1981.

Interfraternity Council guest speaker sparks controversy for alleged misogynistic comments

By Hannah McClellan | May. 7, 2020

On Feb. 16, UNC’s Interfraternity Council hosted an event addressing personal development and mental health that has since been criticized by student leaders as offensive, misogynistic and otherwise problematic. Keynote speaker David Hagan described his speech as "intentionally blunt, graphic and filled with profanity," designed that way to resonate with young men. But Memorial Hall staff complained the speech made them uncomfortable, and some student leaders are still pressing for more public accountability from the IFC, asking the council to apologize for the event and commit to violence prevention training.