Two students of Kansas State University are suing the school for its failure to investigate reports of rape committed at off-campus fraternity houses.
The two Kansas State students filed separate lawsuits against the university in the U.S. District Court in Kansas. Both complaints accuse the University of violating Title IX, a federal gender equity law that protects students from sexual violence and harassment.
The parties also contend that the university's policies fail to warn and protect women from a "foreseeably dangerous environment" and by falsely depicting the fraternity system in the university's Manhattan campus as "fun and safe."
According to The Wichita Eagle, both students reported having been raped at two different fraternity houses in 2014 and 2015, respectively. When the women reported the incidents, they were told that the school would not investigate the matter since both university-recognized fraternity houses were not located within the campus.
The lawsuits state that both women are afraid of encountering their attackers at school and are under "constant risk."
According to The Kansas City Star, the university commented that it will not "not discuss litigation matters in the media," nor will they "publicly discuss individual reports of discrimination, including sexual violence."
Kansas State University also reiterated that it has a "strong policy prohibiting discrimination, including sexual violence, and provides a multitude of resources and assistance to students and employees."
These cases are the third and fourth filings against Kansas State University involving sexual assault allegations. The New York Times reported that a member of the school's women's rowing team filed a similar case on Tuesday, alleging that the university failed to look into her sexual assault complaint against a football player.
In response to the reports, the Education Department has reminded universities that Title IX obliges them to investigated accusations of off-campus rapes of their students, including off-campus fraternity houses.
Both complainants are seeking unspecified monetary damages and are demanding that the university investigate their rape claims. According to the women's lawyer, Attorney Cari Simon, the complainants want to hold the university accountable as they do not wish the same incident to happen to other students.
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