5 More Sue EMU For Misuse Of Sexual Assault Claims

Detroit MI

10 September, 2021

11:22 AM

Description

MICHIGAN — Four women and one man filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Eastern Michigan University claiming the college failed to protect them from sexual assaults while on campus. The new Title IX lawsuit brings the total number of people suing Eastern Michigan for supposedly disregarding and mishandling reports of sexual assaults to 24. "For at least seven years, EMU has purposely failed to investigate credible reports of sexual assault, aggressively discouraged victims from filing complaints, and misled victims into believing that their assaults were isolated incidents instead of acts perpetrated by repeat offenders," the lawsuit said. This new lawsuit specifically targets the university's Title IX Coordinator Melody Werner, accusing her of ignoring victim's complaints and refusing to report them under the rules and regulations put in place by the university's Board of Regents. The new lawsuit also attacks the university's failure to monitor underage drinking at EMU's fraternities and sororities, and states that a young woman was sexually assault on Aug. 29 by multiple people after leaving a fraternity party where alcohol was served. Live in Detroit? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. The Detroit Free Press reported that Eastern Michigan University released a statement on Wednesday night saying they cannot comment on the complaint because they had not yet reviewed it and reiterated "its stances that any accusation of a cover-up is false." "The University's Title IX office took its responsibilities very seriously and worked diligently in those situations in which it was contacted about a sexual assault, to show compassion, express concern, and actively support survivors, while encouraging them to pursue an investigation if they were interested and willing to do so," the school reiterated to the Free Press.