Students of Brigham Young University rallied on Wednesday, regarding a rape victim being mistreated over its sexual misconduct school policy. The university claimed the rape victim violated the school's honor code and will be given punishment for it.
According to the Guardian, Brigham Young students were angered on how the school treated the victims of sexual assault. It follows on the reported date rape case of Madi Barney, a 19-year-old sophomore student. Barney turned to Provo, Utah authorities to report that she was assaulted on her apartment outside the campus.
On the police reports, the student was allegedly raped by Nasiru Seidu, 39-years old, who concealed his age, name and marital status from her. Two months later, Utah police sent the filed report to Brigham Young and she was notified by the honor code office for a disciplinary hearing. "We have received information that you have been a victim of behavior that is addressed in the university Sexual Misconduct Policy," according to the sent summon letter by the BYU officials to Barney.
A petition, which Barney drafted, aimed to revised and exempt rape victims from the university's honor code is being pushed by the students, according to Time. So far, the said petition has more than 92,000 signatures, and the students planned to submit it to the school officials. Barney faced difficulties after the incident happened, and was even barred from enrolling for the next semester.
"Nothing a survivor does makes rape or any sexual assault OK. "By investigating victims for violations of the honor code, BYU is revictimizing those who come forward and blaming them for what happened," Barney wrote on her Facebook page.
On the Wednesday's protest, supporters delivered the petition to a representative of BYU president Kevin Worthen. They wore teal armbands, a symbol of solidarity with assault victims, and carried placards that read, "Protect victims, don't shame them," Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Worthen issued a statement promising to investigate the relationship between the school's Title IX office and honor code office. The school's honor code prohibits, students from drinking, drugs, wearing inappropriate clothing or premarital sex. Student violating the honor code will received punishment or even be expelled.
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