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Kansas State University Asked to Examine Off-campus Rapes

MANHATTAN, Kan. ― Kansas State University fraternities are calling on the university to begin investigating episodes of alleged sexual violence that occur off campus.

The university’s Interfraternity Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday seeking the university’s involvement in off-campus incidents, The Manhattan Mercury reports. The move comes less than a week after two students sued the university, alleging civil rights violations for not looking into two allegations of rape that occurred at off-campus events hosted by fraternities.

“We salute the bravery of victims during this time whose allegations were not fully investigated and adjudicated by the university,” the council wrote in the resolution. “Their fight against sexual violence has shed light on a university policy which has negatively impacted the lives of students for far too long.”

According to the resolution, the council has met with university officials over the past two years to request for a policy change to include off-campus allegations, but the meetings haven’t provided a clear plan of action.

“It’s just been very frustrating,” said Zach Lowry, the council’s president. “It’s fallen on deaf ears.”

The resolution says the university hasn’t given victims assurance to continue their education free of sexual violence by assisting with finances or helping students change their residence, class schedule or campus job. It also says that the university hasn’t investigated if allegations occurred on or off campus.

University spokesman Jeff Morris said the university will consider the resolution.

“I can’t come out today and say we are going to do all this because we just got it this morning,” Morris said. “That would be an inappropriate response on our part.”

He said the university is currently working on rewording the language in its policy on investigating sexual assault allegations.

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