AMES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University student is suing the school for allegedly mishandling the response to her sexual assault by another student in 2014.
The 21-year-old woman alleges in the lawsuit that university officials “actively discouraged” her from formally reporting the assault, then took months to investigate and take action against her assailant.
The lawsuit says the university placed her and her assailant in the same housing complex at the start of the fall 2014 semester. She says his presence made her uncomfortable and contributed to her decision to drop out.
A university spokesman says Iowa State hasn’t been served with the lawsuit, which was filed last week in Story County.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Andrew Zbaracki, said his client suffered “considerable emotional damage” from the assault and its aftermath.
