The Daily Tar Heel

Serving the students and the University community since 1893

Tuesday June 6th

Sexual Assault

In December 2012, two UNC female victims of sexual assault spoke up about what they said was a deeply rooted problem with the University’s handling of sexual misconduct — one that they said was inappropriate, time-consuming and traumatic. Those allegations drove three current students, one former student and one former administrator to file a complaint against the University with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging that UNC facilitated a hostile environment for victims reporting sexual assault. 

To help bring the University into compliance with the Department of Education’s “Dear Colleague” letter, the University has also hired Ew Quimbaya-Winship to serve as UNC’s Deputy Title IX Officer, or student complaint coordinator, starting March 11, 2013.

The University's Sexual Assault Task Force convenes for the first time in May 2013 to address changing the University's misconduct policies related to sexual assault.

On Aug. 28, 2014, the University released its new policy on discrimination, harassment and related misconduct

General Script



Sammie Espada, a junior women's and gender studies and poll sic double major, reads out grievances addressed to the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office as protesters watch on in 2017.

Can campuses handle sexual assault cases?

Any UNC student you stop on the street can give you directions to anywhere on campus and name the basketball starting lineup, but you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who knows the history of sexual assault on their campus. “I’m honestly not aware of any sexual assault stories related to UNC,” said junior Irene Zhu.

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Andrea Pino (left) and Annie Clark in Los Angeles, in front of the map they use to keep track of their work. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lipsky. 

Survivors work to prevent assault, help others

A woman sits in her dorm, cradling her head in her hands. There are no more tears, just frustration. Her body hurts. Her head pounds. She hears the sound of other people who are getting back from their night out on Franklin Street, but is numb to it. Even with the sights and sounds of people close to her, she feels alone.

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