Amherst College settles suit filed after diploma withheld over rape allegation

Masslive.com ^ | January 24, 2015 | Stephanie Barry

[rickyrikardo]

SPRINGFIELD — A lawsuit filed by an Amherst College student who argued the school unfairly held up his academic career over an old, unproven allegation of an on-campus rape has quietly settled.

According to records in U.S. District Court, the college recently reached a settlement with the "John Doe" but neither his lawyers nor school officials will discuss the terms of the agreement.

Doe filed the lawsuit last year after the college decided to revive a 2009 allegation a week before he was set to earn his diploma in 2014 - and after the college had disciplined him for excessive drinking and acting out sexually. His accuser, identified only as "Student A" in court records, said he complained to school officials at the time of his alleged encounter with Doe but never filed a formal complaint. In the meantime, Doe had taken a school-mandated, yearlong "medical withdrawal" from the college in his native South Africa.

The mandate included that the student seek psychiatric help, according to court records.

[rickyrikardo]

The student was asking for $2 million dollars, which he deserved. It is likely that an amount equal or close to $2 million was granted, but the college doesn't want to make too much noise, lest people continue to realize that due process is being shattered thanks to Obama's threat to withdraw federal money for colleges that do not believe every rape allegation.

[palmer]

his alleged encounter with Doe

[IronJack]

So John Doe and Student A were both males?

Is there a Buggering Studies major at Amherst?

[Cowboy Bob]

Yeah, I noticed that too...

[Hulka]

“Student A” in court records, said he complained to school officials at the time of his alleged encounter with Doe”

HE!?

[olepap]

Yes. Homo rape complicates things for the progressives.

[I want the USA back]

What is a man doing in Amherst college? He should know that he is out of place there. They only allow him in for his money.
The moment he steps foot in the place he is automatically a potential rapist.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I love it when leftist MASShole colleges get hoisted by their own petard : )

[Stevenc131]

When the Duke Lacrosse scandal blew up in the university’s, (and the prosecutor’s) face it looked like schools might learn something about requiring some type of proof that a crime had occurred. Unfortunately the reverse is true. Under pressure from the U.S. DOJ colleges now almost universally use the Duke Lacrosse standard that an allegation by itself is proof of a crime.

[taxcontrol]

Note a side track to this conversation.

The school decided he needed to see a psychiatrist. This sets up the removal of 2nd Amendment rights as several states are moving in the direction of adopting laws which prohibit anyone who has received any form of mental health treatment from owning firearms.

Never agree to see a psychiatrist or counselor.

[Kenny Bunk]

the college doesn't want to make too much noise

Apparently not only the "H" in Amherst is silent.

[machogirl]

woops, telling the male “suspect” whom was accused of sexual advances on a male student, to go see a psychiatrist, won’t go over well with the Gay Lobby. Unless of course, the “suspect” was “straight” and made sexual advances toward a “gay or transgendered” student, then it would probably be okay with the Gay Lobby for a school to force a “straight” man to see a psychiatrist.

[Bigg Red]

I don’t know if your scenario fits here, as the progressives would not be supporting the prosecution of male-on-male sexual assault.

[magooey]

When the Duke Lacrosse scandal blew up in the university’s, (and the prosecutor’s) face it looked like schools might learn something about requiring some type of proof that a crime had occurred. Unfortunately the reverse is true. Under pressure from the U.S. DOJ colleges now almost universally use the Duke Lacrosse standard that an allegation by itself is proof of a crime.

In this case. it is much too dangerous to be a male student in the USA. There are plenty of other universities throughout the world, and it shouldn't be too difficult to find some with civilized standards. Those students from the USA might also want to consider possibilities abroad.

[Mears]

I’ve never heard Amherst spoken with a silent “H”.

.

[Kenny Bunk]

I’ve never heard Amherst spoken with a silent “H”.

You must hang out with that crowd from Hampshire.

[workerbee]

had disciplined him for excessive drinking and acting out sexually.

I shudder to think what "acting out sexually" could possibly entail these days! Isn't any "acting out" merely a subconscious plea to be mutilated into a different gender, or to be allowed to cross-dress?

[workerbee]

prohibit anyone who has received any form of mental health treatment from owning firearms.

Good grief! This could be anything from a minister to a bartender to your sister!

[Mears]

“You must hang out with that crowd from Hampshire. “

—

Nope,but I’ve lived in Eastern MA all of my life. Never heard it with a silent “H”.

.

[sarasmom]

Perhaps I'm just not smart enough to understand criminal law, but why are any separate entities, like colleges, public schools, businesses and/or churches allowed to be involved in any way with criminal allegations and investigations?

I can see why they clearly would want to have “jurisdiction”, just not why it is has been allowed.