UNC Student Faces Punishment After Speaking Out About Sexual Assault

A student-run judicial panel at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has accused a sophomore of “intimidating behavior” against a fellow student who she says raped her. The decision comes weeks after she joined with others in lodging a federal complaint against the university over its handling of sexual-assault cases. The News & Observer reports that the panel accused the student, Landen Gambill, of “disruptive or intimidating behavior that willfully abuses, disparages, or otherwise interferes” with another’s academic pursuits.

Ms. Gambill said the accusation had been made by an ex-boyfriend who raped her, and whom she has not publicly identified. She told the newspaper that the threat of punishment represents the university’s way of retaliating against her for filing the federal complaint and speaking out. A spokeswoman for the university said a claim of retaliation by the institution would be “without merit,” since students, not campus administrators, make the charging decisions. Ms. Gambill faces possible punishments that include expulsion.

The panel’s action has sparked outrage online, where observers are using the Twitter hashtag #StandWithLanden to express support for her. In a statement cited by the newspaper, the university’s spokeswoman said it cares deeply about its students and is committed to policies that are fair for everyone, “especially about an issue that is as difficult and often involves strong opinions on both sides, like sexual assault.”