Three victims of sexual assault are suing the University of California Berkeley and the University of California Board of Regents for allegedly failing to properly prevent, investigate and handle sexual assaults that reportedly took place while they were taking classes at the school.
Sofie Karasek, 22, Aryle Butler, 21, and Nicoletta Commins, 23, recalled the details of their assaults during a press conference held in Berkeley on Monday, according to the New York Daily News. The women are reportedly seeking damages for psychological and emotional distress, physical injury and its effects on their coursework and grades.
The three women were featured in the college rape documentary, The Hunting Ground, which was released in February of this year.
Berkeley was among 55 colleges and universities under investigation by the United States Department of Education for allegedly mishandling and failing to report sexual assault and rape cases on campuses between 2013 and 2014. Berkeley has refused to provide comment until it is formally served with the details of the civil suit.
Sexual assault on campus remains a topic of intense debate and policymaking. Stanford recently introduced a mandatory course for incoming freshmen that teaches students how to recognize and deal with sexual assault. The schools also has a promotional video that informs students about alcohol consumption and the dangers associated with it.
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