A North Carolina high school student was suspended by her school board last month after she reported being sexually assaulted by a male classmate in the bathroom.
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The sophomore student at Hawthorne Academy reported the incident in late August and filed a report with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. As reported by WBTV, her assailant was charged with sexual battery but the school’s administrators claimed that the report was unfounded and suspended the student then made her sign a no-contact order. The document states she is prohibited from participating in school activities and required to attend a “sexual harassment prevention” course.
“I really just thought I had faith in CMS, that they were going to do right by my daughter. So when I got that phone call I was hurt. They are making her feel like she is being punished for coming forward,” her mother explained to the outlet.
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The school board nor the school’s principal, Diann Weston, didn’t release any statements in regards to the student’s suspension
In response, students have walked out of the school in protest and supported their suspended classmate. A statement was released by Superintendent Earnest Winston to address parents about the situation:
“As a parent, I understand the concerns many families are sharing about news coverage of incidents of misconduct. It is difficult for me to not give in to the parental instinct of providing information to help others gain a better understanding of situations, which many times prove more complex than news reports might lead one to conclude.
As the leader of the district, I am bound by law to not disclose confidential information about such matters as individual student discipline or ongoing police investigations.
We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously, and our staff is trained to follow proper procedures in reporting. District leaders review assertions of Title IX reporting problems and will take appropriate action in the event any review reveals action is necessary.