Sexual Assault
Harvard-Inspired Sexual Assault Response Bill Passes in House of Representatives
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a Harvard-inspired bill to preserve rights of sexual assault victims, bringing the legislation one step closer to law.
Faust Again Calls for Social Groups To Accept Women
University President Drew G. Faust redoubled her criticisms of Harvard’s all-male final clubs as exclusive, discriminatory, and inconsistent with the values of a liberal arts education, making the case for penalizing members of the social groups in a video for The Atlantic.
Harvard Files to Throw Out Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
On Monday, Harvard responded to Leader’s suit, arguing that Leader’s claims do not amount to any kind of legal violation or injury.
Harvard Will Move to Dismiss Suit Over Sexual Harassment Case
Harvard filed its initial response, which indicates the University will seek to throw out the complainant’s claims instead of settle, four months after after Alyssa R. Leader ’15 initially opened the lawsuit in federal court.
More Rapes Reported at Harvard in 2014 than Any Other Mass. School
Harvard topped the list for Massachusetts universities with 33 reported rapes that occurred on its campus in Cambridge.
Alicia Oeser
Alicia Oeser, the director of the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, sits in a May 20, 2016 portrait.
Standing Up: Student Groups Take on Sexual Assault
Despite efforts to improve trainings, some have suggested the brief sessions on their own may be insufficient.
Student Sexual Assault Investigations Last Months Past 60-Day Federal Guideline
For cases involving students, sexual assault and harassment investigations often last more than 4 months—well beyond the 60-day window that the federal agency recommends for the entire process.
Sorority, Club Women Denounce New Policy on Facebook
Dozens of undergraduate women involved in sororities and female final clubs are taking to social media to defend their organizations and criticize a new Harvard policy that will penalize involvement in all unrecognized single-gender social groups.
Sablière Leaders Charge Admins with Ignoring Female Clubs
Three graduate leaders of the all-female Sablière Society have questioned the administration’s actions toward Harvard’s final clubs, accusing administrators of ignoring the input of female clubs.
Occidental Students Protest Harvard Law Professor as Commencement Speaker
Students and faculty at Occidental College are protesting the school’s choice of Harvard Law School professor Randall L. Kennedy as their commencement speaker for his controversial statements on race-related activism and the film “The Hunting Ground.”
Harvard Wears Denim Campaign
Students speak with Harvard Wears Denim campaign organizers at a station in the Science Center Plaza on Wednesday. The campaign, meant to raise awareness about sexual assault, asked supporters to wear denim that day in memorial of a 1998 Italian Supreme Court decision in which a rape conviction was overturned because the victim had been wearing jeans allegedly too tight to remove without her consent.
In Letter to Khurana, Porcellian-Commissioned Report Scrutinizes Final Club Statistics
A professional statistical analyst, commissioned by the 225-year old Porcellian Club, sharply criticized the Harvard sexual assault prevention task force’s interpretation of survey data and recommendations for action on final clubs.
Fly Club Letter
In a letter addressed to Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana, graduate president of the Fly Richard T. Porteus Jr. ’78 called on Khurana to recuse himself from "further discussion with final clubs."
“Where Do We Go From Here?”
Glass pillars stand in front of Widener Library as part of a public art installation that responds to the Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault. The installation is part of the ArtsFirst festival that will take place this weekend.
Global Media Jumps on Porcellian Club Controversy
When a leader from Harvard’s most reclusive final club spoke out publicly for the first time in decades, reporters across the globe jumped on the story.
Sanctions for Show
We have long condemned final clubs for cultivating such a toxic campus social environment. But to impose sanctions on club members would be to recognize the institutions themselves as the sole roots of sexual assault.
Student-Only Group Will Provide ‘Unfettered’ Input on College Sexual Assault Prevention
Fulfilling a longtime wish, a committee composed solely of undergraduates has begun meeting to provide “unfettered” input for administrators as the College seeks to implement sexual assault prevention measures.
"Where Do We Go From Here?"
A triangular plexiglass column covered in cutouts of the University report on sexual assault stands in Ticknor Lounge on Tuesday. The column is one of 12 placed in common spaces around campus as part of an interactive art project produced by Devon M. Guinn ’17 and Delfina S. Martinez-Pandian ’17.
Students’ Art Installation Asks Harvard to Reflect on Sexual Assault
Students have constructed an expansive art installation in all 12 of Harvard’s upperclassman Houses—along with Dudley House and Boylston Hall—in order to call further attention to ongoing discussions about sexual assault on campus.
At iLab, Students Explore Ways to Combat Sexual Assault
Dozens gathered for a“hackathon” at the Harvard Innovation Lab on Sunday to propose and develop ideas to help combat campus sexual assault.