University of Miami sued over rape case

A former University of Miami student is suing the school for violating Title IX, which governs instances of sexual assault and gender discrimination.

The student, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, alleges that the former dean of students, William A. ‘Tony’ Lake, told her to simply ‘avoid’ her alleged rapist and that she should ‘feel bad’ for him because he had few friends, reports the Miami New Times.

The lawsuit filed September 15 alleges that the woman was raped on August 23, 2013 and that she was stalked and harassed by her rapist at least 10 times before he was expelled from the school in December of that year. 

The alleged rapist, who was a resident adviser for a campus dormitory, allegedly yelled at her at a fraternity party in September 2013.

The lawsuit details the victim’s interactions with Lake throughout the Fall 2013 semester.

‘Dean Lake advised Plaintiff to “avoid those situations” in which Assailant would come in contact with her,’ the suit reads, detailing a September meeting.

‘This was nearly impossible without Plaintiff’s avoiding all campus facilities and activities, including classes, therapy appointments, the library, the student center, or any other facilities on campus.’

A woman is suing the University of Miami, her alma mater, for its handling of her 2013 rape case. She is alleging that the university’s response to her case failed to meet Title IX guidelines

Describing a meeting in October: ‘Dean Lake suggested to Plaintiff that perhaps Assailant had inserted his fingers and not his penis into Plaintiff’s vagina, and that this was not rape.’ 

It continues: ‘He told Plaintiff that she should “feel bad” for Assailant because he did not have many friends and that Assailant may not have meant to be violent toward her during the September 13, 2013 fraternity party. 

‘He suggested that Plaintiff withdraw the rape allegations since the Assailant would likely be punished regardless. Instead of investigating Plaintiff’s allegations, Dean Lake attempted to sweep them under the rug.’

The student also allegedly told Lake of her concern that her alleged rapist was threatening other women as well, a concern that he allegedly ignored.

She took her concerns about his alleged stalking to the police, and on December 16, 2013 received an emergency restraining order against him from Miami-Dade County.

Six days prior, a university board found the alleged rapist guilty of ‘sexual assault and battery, intimate partner/dating violence, underage drinking, physical assault, and sexual harassment.’

He had been allowed to remain on campus but was expelled after the restraining order was obtained.

The lawsuit reads: ‘[Lake] told Plaintiff that she should “feel bad” for Assailant because he did not have many friends.’ Lake also allegedly told the victim that she had not been raped. Pictured is another view of the university

While navigating the university’s response to her alleged rape, the plaintiff says she suffered trauma and anxiety. Her grades fell and she attempted suicide. University officials allegedly did not communicate with her professors about her struggle. 

The student graduated from the university in May 2015 with a degree in microbiology and immunology.

She is saying that her grade point average fell from a 3.8/4.0 to a 3.5/4.0 due to failing grades she received while dealing with the alleged rapist and the school’s response.

She is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Houston. 

Lake left the university in May 2016.