UNC Faces Federal Investigation Into Retaliation Complaint By Sexual Assault Survivor

University's Sexual Assault Scandal Widens

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is opening a new investigation into the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill over allegations that UNC-Chapel Hill sophomore Landen Gambill faced retaliation for filing a federal complaint against the university. Gambill's case gained national attention after she reported a sexual assault to the school and was later charged with a school honor code violation.

The university now faces three investigations by the department. Charges include complaints that UNC-Chapel Hill allegedly created a hostile climate for sexual assault survivors, failed to properly adjudicate rape at the school and that officials allegedly underreported sexual misconduct on campus.

The third OCR investigation will consider whether the February honor code charge against Gambill was retaliation, the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., reports. Gambill was one of five women who filed federal complaints against UNC-Chapel Hill in January, which spurred the first two investigations by the department.

Gambill filed an additional complaint in March after being charged with the honor code violation by the student-run honor court. The court charged that Gambill created an "intimidating" environment for her alleged abuser, an ex-boyfriend and fellow Chapel Hill student whom she has never named publicly. Gambill would have faced expulsion if she had been found guilty, but the charge was eventually dropped.

"The university is reviewing the matter and will cooperate fully with OCR's investigation," UNC-Chapel Hill spokeswoman Karen Moon told The Huffington Post in an email. The university has previously denied that officials retaliated against Gambill.

After the honor code charge, the university commissioned Rutgers University professor Barbara Lee to review the situation. Lee concluded there was no retaliation, but did find significant problems with the honor court system.

Henry Clay Turner, Gambill's attorney, believes the federal investigation is warranted.

"Retaliation doesn't always have to be bad acts; it can be a failure to act," Turner told HuffPost.

Lee did not interview Gambill during the review because Gambill refused to participate in an investigation launched by UNC. The charge was dropped in June, after Lee's review.

Gambill told HuffPost she anticipates the OCR will conduct "a credible and thorough investigation."

As part of the third investigation, the OCR will also consider whether the university retaliated against Gambill when administrators moved her ex-boyfriend, who was found by the honor court to have sexually harassed her, to a dormitory located near Gambill's residence, according to the News & Observer.

The Education Department sent a "Dear Colleague" letter in April to all colleges nationwide, reminding them it's against the law to retaliate against whistleblowers like Gambill.

Before You Go

University Of Colorado - Boulder

Schools Investigating Or Reviewing Policies On Sexual Assault

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot