Expelled Duke U Student Sues for Degree

Duke University expelled a student for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman, despite the man never being criminally charged.

June 02, 2014 CS Staff

DURHAM, N.C. – A Duke University student has filed a lawsuit against the college after he was banned from a graduation ceremony because of another student accused him of sexual assault.

Lewis McLeod, a psychology major from Australia, was expelled from the university after a female student told police that he sexually assaulted her on Nov. 14, after the two students met at a local bar before going back to McLeod’s home.

In his lawsuit, McLeod says that the sex was consensual until the woman got emotional and started crying. The alleged victim later took her claims to the authorities, prompting both Duke University police and Durham police to investigate the claims. The police decided not to charge McLeod with a crime, WRAL.com reports.

However, the university’s Office of Student Conduct oversaw its own investigation and found McLeod guilty of sexual assault and expelled him.

The lawsuit claims Duke University conducted a sloppy investigation, citing that the victim’s “anonymous” friends were allowed to provide testimony against him, while his roommate was not allowed as a witness.

Due to his expulsion, McLeod was not able to obtain his degree, which is preventing him from accepting a job offer from a Wall Street firm, he claims in the lawsuit. Additionally, the plaintiff’s student visa expired at the end of the semester, and without a job, he cannot stay in the country.

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