Students protest the University’s mishandling of sexual violence cases
Reporting about the SGA, not a record of it: The Johns Hopkins News-Letter published this and the SGA did not write it, file it, or approve it. The archive holds it because the article itself uses the phrases “sga” and “student government”.
Summary
- This Johns Hopkins News-Letter article covers a protest over the University’s handling of sexual-violence cases and allegations against Anthropology Professor Juan Obarrio.
- The paper reported that about 100 people gathered outside the library to demand OIE reforms and action against Obarrio; a petition seeking his firing had more than 1,400 signatures.
- The article says Obarrio denied the allegations, writing, “I firmly reject the accusations. There is an ongoing investigation and there is no evidence for the claims included in the online petition that has been circulated.”
- The reporter writes that protesters described problems with OIE, including a case in which the deadline for a report changed 14 times; the report later found the perpetrator responsible after he had transferred.
- The paper reported that SGA Junior Class Senator Miranda Bannister cited an increase in OIE reports from 240 to 410 in 2017 and said the office would be unable to handle reports if more survivors came forward.
- The article adds that a website problem blocked OIE from receiving or acting on 18 misconduct reports from January 2016 through October 2018; OIE apologized, said it would update crime logs, and said it was taking immediate steps to support affected people.