MORAGA, Calif., St. Mary’s College is being sued by a former student, alleging the school improperly dismissed her claim that she was raped.
The woman says she was assaulted by a fellow St. Mary’s student in her dorm room two years ago. In the suit, she says a dormitory official initially disputed her claim and told her she was overreacting. The student’s attorney said St. Mary’s should have made the reporting process easier.
Moraga police and the college investigated the case for two months, but prosecutors decided not to press charges. The alleged assailant was an assistant resident adviser. In court documents, he said the sex was consensual.
The alleged incident occurred a year after Bay Area media reported the college had downplayed rapes on campus and responded badly to some sexual assaults. In response to the criticism, as well as a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Education, St. Mary’s College revamped its policies regarding sex crimes.
