R. Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, has established a task force to examine the university’s procedures for dealing with sexual assaults. In an email to the campus community, President Turner said that the Task Force on Sexual Misconduct Policies and Procedures will “examine SMU’s procedures and policies in comparison with benchmark practices to determine if any updates or changes are needed.”
The review was prompted by the university’s response to an allegation of rape last February. The case wound its way through the campus disciplinary system, which includes boards with student members, for eight months before the case was forwarded to the district attorney. A grand jury then indicted the suspect in the case. During the process, the accused student and the victim remained on campus.
Four sexual assaults have been reported on the SMU campus this year.