Content warning: The following story deals with themes and personal narratives of sexual assault. Doane offers free counseling for students. Additionally, the Hope Crisis Center, serving southeast Nebraska, can be reached anytime at 1-877-388-HOPE(4673).
In 2024, a woman, identified as Jane Doe, alleged she was raped by seven members of Chi Phi. Doe claims she was intoxicated at the time with alcohol and ketamine and was unable to provide consent. Doe filed a civil lawsuit against the seven men. Doe also made claims against the school that it failed to protect her.
Suzanne Mealer, Title IX Coordinator & Compliance Officer and Addison Rosno, Campus Advocacy, Prevention and Education (CAPE) Director, brought insight into how procedures concerning Title IX work at Doane. They also shared prevention efforts and resources available to students.
The law prohibits sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, in education programs. A student can file a sexual assault report under Title IX by reporting it to Mealer, or they can open a criminal investigation by reporting to law enforcement; students can choose to do both.
“During a Title IX investigation, we gather information from the people involved. This can include interviews, witness statements, text messages, emails, documents and other information that may be relevant to the case,” Mealer said.
Someone who witnessed an assault or a friend of the victim is also able to file a Title IX investigation. “Making a report does not automatically mean there will be a formal investigation. The Title IX office can reach out to the student who experienced the conduct, offer support and resources, and explain the options available to them,” Mealer said.
“Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs does not prevent a student from making a Title IX report, and the use of alcohol or drugs by itself does not determine whether consent was given,” Mealer said.
Rosno shared the options of sexual assault examination kits, also known as rape kits, for survivors after the assault. “The exam can collect and preserve evidence if a survivor chooses, now or in the future, to involve law enforcement. The exam is optional, and you can still receive medical care even if you choose not to take the exam…Evidence can be collected up to five days (120 hours) after an assault,” Rosno said.
Crete students should be aware that the Crete Area Medical Center does not provide examination kits. “The closest hospital with the resources to conduct these examinations is Bryan Hospital in Lincoln. Hope Crisis Center, Crete’s local victim services center, provides free transportation to and from Bryan if needed,” Rosno said.
There has been backlash regarding how Cornell protected Jane Doe for many reasons, including how only two of the seven were expelled, and the other men had “light punishment” such as writing essays.
“We can assure our university community that our Title IX policy provides for serious disciplinary consequences, including suspension and expulsion, when warranted by the findings and circumstances,” Mealer said.
However, each case is carefully looked at before deciding what sanctions can be made.
Rosno also shared how students can have a healthy dialogue about the case, and shares the dangers of victim blaming.
“One of the biggest issues that we run into when discussing this case is rape culture’s myth of a
‘perfect victim.’ Rape culture tends to influence our conversations by creating assumptions about what a ‘real’ sexual assault looks like and what a ‘real’ survivor should do afterward,” Rosno said.
Students are encouraged to have conversations by being able to say “I don’t know” rather than making assumptions. “We can ask questions about consent, accountability and the larger systems that shape sexual violence without blaming or judging the people involved,” Rosno said.
CAPE will be hosting a tabling event in Lakeside on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will be able to sign CAPE’s pledge to stand up against interpersonal violence. Students can also join CAPE for an education session on some of the broader conversations about victim blaming, bystander intervention, and rape at 7:30 p.m.
Rosno also shared an email to all Doane students. “We all have a role to play in preventing sexual violence before it happens. It also means holding ourselves and one another accountable for our actions and the ways we contribute to our campus culture,” Rosno said.
Students can help each other most by responding without judgment when someone discloses sexual violence. “Believe them. Listen without judgment. Avoid asking questions that place blame on them,” Rosno said.
CAPE can provide confidential support and resource navigation, information about reporting options and connections to counseling, medical, legal and community resources
If students have any questions, they can contact Rosno at addison.rosno@doane.edu or meet her in her office at the Nexus Center. Students can also contact Mealer at suzane.mealer@doane.edu.
