"...Several women raised complaints against the university administration's handling of sexual assault matters. The web site mother, who requested anonymity, related how in addition to the Commonwealth Attorney's refusal to take her daughter's case because "you can't prosecute the young man for being opportunistic," a woman at the UVA Office of the Dean of Students also trivialized the assault. Allegedly she was told, "Sometimes young girls in these situations call it rape to halt the hurt and embarrassment that occurs when their parents find out they've been having sex." and she even suggested that it may be best for her daughter to "take time off" to get herself together.

Dean Penny Rue from the Office of the Dean of Students said that she did not tolerate that kind of response from any of her staff, and that the  mother must have been speaking with a university police officer when she called the office. (The mother said she was quite sure, however, that she was speaking with a dean.) Regardless, Dean Rue did concede that the campus police are supposed to be trained in how to respond to sexual assault survivors and their families."

Point 1:

The comment made by Dean Rue indicates that she was unaware of the comments made to me. She lied to the journalist. The Honor Code does not allow lying or cheating amongst students; perhaps the Code does not apply to University employees.

Dean Rue made the comments used in Mary's article to me on Monday, 15 March 2004, during a phone conversation. I felt her comments were disrespectful and unprofessional; within days I submitted a complaint to Vice President Lampkin's office. The complaint was investigated by Attorney M. Wessel. Ms Wessel never disputed that the conversation took place between Dean Rue and myself exactly as I documented it. I also sent a note to President Casteen to inform him of what had occurred. The University did not take action against Dean Rue - which provides yet another example of the way the University continues to trivialize the matter of sexual assault.

A Cavalier Daily Reporter also interviewed Dean Rue about the comments mentioned above, and she responded with a defamatory remark. The reporter notified me of the remark, but chose not to print it.

Dean Rue's continued denial of our conversation shows an extreme lack of integrity which her superiors appear to approve of.  She has also attempted to shift the "blame" for such comments to another University Branch - the UVA Police Department.

Point 2:

Dean Rue's comments "that the campus police are supposed to be trained in how to respond to sexual assault survivors and their families" is an interesting twist since one of my complaints is that the police mishandled the investigation. I have sent President Casteen several requests to review the police handling of this case yet he has ignored these requests. Neither the Dean of Students nor the President of the University appear to be concerned with the failure of the campus police to properly investigate allegations of sexual assault.

I am happy to report that the 2006 VA Legislature passed HR1036, which mandates that all campus police must be trained to standard by the summer of 2007. President Casteen, since you weren't attentive, a bill has been passed to help boost your interest!