By — Carey Reed Carey Reed Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/uva-suspends-fraternities-amid-sexual-assault-allegations Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter UVa suspends fraternal activities until Jan. 9 amid sexual assault allegations Nation Nov 22, 2014 4:01 PM EDT The President of the University of Virginia announced on Saturday the suspension of activities for the school’s fraternal organizations until Jan. 9, 2015, following reactions within the school community to the recent recounting of an alleged 2012 sexual assault in Rolling Stone magazine. “The wrongs described in Rolling Stone are appalling and have caused all of us to reexamine our responsibility to this community,” wrote UVA President Teresa A. Sullivan in a statement posted on the University’s website. “Rape is an abhorrent crime that has no place in the world, let alone on the campuses and grounds of our nation’s colleges and universities.” On Saturday morning, UVA’s Inter-Fraternity Council announced that social activities planned for the weekend had been called off voluntarily by campus fraternities. “This is an important first step, but our challenges will extend beyond this weekend,” Sullivan wrote, explaining that social activities will be postponed until the start of the spring semester. The fall semester at UVA runs until Dec. 16, when the school’s examination period ends. In the statement, Sullivan said she has also requested the local police department investigate the allegations. “There are individuals in our community who know what happened that night, and I am calling on them to come forward to the police to report the facts,” she said. “Only you can shed light on the truth, and it is your responsibility to do so.” The Rolling Stone article, which describes the gang rape of a female student at a campus fraternity house, was published online and written by journalist Sabrina Erdely, who joined Judy Woodruff on Friday to discuss the article as well as issues of sexual assault on campuses across the country. On Tuesday, UVA’s Board, which is charged with approving the school’s policies and budgets, in addition to upholding its Honor System, will convene to determine next steps in addressing sexual assault on campus, and more specifically, how to tackle the recent allegations. By — Carey Reed Carey Reed Carey Reed assists in covering breaking and feature news for NewsHour Weekend's website. She also helps the NewsHour Weekend broadcast team in the production of the show. She is interested in the flourishing fields of data journalism and information visualization and recently graduated, with honors, from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. @careyereed
The President of the University of Virginia announced on Saturday the suspension of activities for the school’s fraternal organizations until Jan. 9, 2015, following reactions within the school community to the recent recounting of an alleged 2012 sexual assault in Rolling Stone magazine. “The wrongs described in Rolling Stone are appalling and have caused all of us to reexamine our responsibility to this community,” wrote UVA President Teresa A. Sullivan in a statement posted on the University’s website. “Rape is an abhorrent crime that has no place in the world, let alone on the campuses and grounds of our nation’s colleges and universities.” On Saturday morning, UVA’s Inter-Fraternity Council announced that social activities planned for the weekend had been called off voluntarily by campus fraternities. “This is an important first step, but our challenges will extend beyond this weekend,” Sullivan wrote, explaining that social activities will be postponed until the start of the spring semester. The fall semester at UVA runs until Dec. 16, when the school’s examination period ends. In the statement, Sullivan said she has also requested the local police department investigate the allegations. “There are individuals in our community who know what happened that night, and I am calling on them to come forward to the police to report the facts,” she said. “Only you can shed light on the truth, and it is your responsibility to do so.” The Rolling Stone article, which describes the gang rape of a female student at a campus fraternity house, was published online and written by journalist Sabrina Erdely, who joined Judy Woodruff on Friday to discuss the article as well as issues of sexual assault on campuses across the country. On Tuesday, UVA’s Board, which is charged with approving the school’s policies and budgets, in addition to upholding its Honor System, will convene to determine next steps in addressing sexual assault on campus, and more specifically, how to tackle the recent allegations.