<p>The dorm assignment thing in the OP article is just flat out not true. No one is “assigned” housing at Williams after their first year…everyone gets to pick. (Don’t know whether that’s her statement or a journalistic mistake.) She chose to pick into a dorm where those guys also chose to live. She could have changed that. And housing changes are literally the first thing that happens when a complaint is filed at the Deans Office, even for much milder situations. There is an entire floor of open “emergency singles” in Mission Hall exactly for this purpose, and you can move out within 24 hours of the complaint. That’s common knowledge at this school. (The College does not, however, reassign the housing of the accused before the case is reviewed…that in itself is a punishment and thus a ridiculous rejection of the “innocent until proven guilty” principle.) Just FYI for any concerned applicants out there. </p>
<p>I’m usually critical of these types of administrative policies, but her case seemed to be handled quite justly and carefully. She accused him of rape, the College investigated and found him guilty not of rape but of assault–thus the suspension instead of the expulsion; there was an appeal, and the College upheld the verdict and the punishment. Her complaint was seriously addressed, and it appears that the process upheld some rights of the accused. </p>
<p>The type of person who has no problem talking all about being a mistreated rape survivor on Facebook and in local media but will not go to the courts or to the police…has a different kind of problem…</p>