6 The
7
12
Huntington News Photo by Dylan Shen
Photo by Dylan Shen
Photo by Justine Newman
For the students, by the students since 1926
Student files lawsuit against Northeastern On Nov. 2, 2013, Helfman, accompanied by her mother, reported the incident to Northeastern Uni-
news staff
commenced an investigation, began collecting evidence and escorted
A Northeastern student is suing the university and several administrators and staff members, alleging that the school mishandled her 2013 sexual assault case and has misrepresented violent crime on campus. Morgan Helfman, a junior political science and sociology major, claims that the university mishandled the campus proceedings that found a fellow student not responsible for allegedly raping her, according to court documents. Helfman, who gave The News permission to use her name, chose to handle her
ing and decision.
Medical Center for emergency care, according to court documents. collected evidence in a rape kit, and Helfman took emergency contraception and underwent testing for sexually transmitted diseases, she said. -
Northeastern’s 2013-14 Code
-
Oct. 31, seeks damages and attorney’s fees on the grounds of negligence, breach of contract, intentiondistress, misrepresentation, violation of the Massachusetts Equal hibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded educational programs. Helfman is seeking a trial by jury. as a student anymore after this hapreport because of that,” Helfman said in an interview with The News. “And [students] deserve so much more.” afternoon, Northeastern Director of Communications Matthew McDonald said the university had not received the lawsuit and could not comment on it yet. man, represented by attorneys Kenhas taken legal action against six defendants: Northeastern Univerresidence director of several North-
Photo by Alex Melagrano
Jose, associate dean for cultural, -
Estabrook, current vice president of student affairs. eled more general charges against Northeastern for engaging in deceptive acts and misrepresentations concerning the extent and nature of violent crime on campus. The suit alleges that in addition to mishandling Helfman’s case, Northeastern knew or should have known that it “was not accurately reporting crime at NU and was falsely misrepresenting the extent of crime at NU to students, prospective students and their parents.” crimes as disciplinary violations, leaves of absence to avoid addressstudents to transfer to other schools to avoid addressing crimes and discouraged victims from reporting crimes. “[Northeastern] had a number of
different responsibilities to Morgan said in an interview with The News. “They have an obligation to provide sponsibility to provide safe housing [and] safe premises and to protect against foreseeable experiences. Northeastern knows from experience running a university that there are dangers prevalent on college campuses, and the measures that were taken were inadequate.” The lawsuit alleges that three years ago, Helfman and a male classmate drank alcohol together in companying several other students to a Halloween party. Helfman and her classmate were both freshmen at the time. The party was hosted by a Northeastern resident assistant property operated by the university. At the party, Helfman consumed was on duty that night, according to the suit. who declined to comment at this time. According to the suit, during the
Huskies hit campaign trail news staff
political opinions often come to the forefront of conversations. At Northeastern, some students take that involvement a step further by volunteering for presidential candidates’ campaigns. Freshman combined computer science and criminal justice mathe Donald Trump campaign in
to vote in the upcoming election. December of this year,” said Kabir,
transportation for people who can’t tant to me that people do have a say in the democratic process and that they make the right choice, which in my opinion is Trump.”
why the process seems so opaque to the people who don’t understand it.” -
and other events for the campaign. Kabir, as someone who is not a
during the primary season by canvassing. Though she was asked to
the building. The suit alleges that once past the proctor station, the man did not take Helfman to her room, but instead to his own, where he allegedly sexually assaulted and raped her over the course of several hours. ber that he was on top of me. And
up. And he just kept doing it, after. one point, he did anal sex. And at one point, he tried to push my head down for me to give him a blow job.” The News reached out to the alleged assailant, who declined to comment at this time.
alleged assailant “not responsible” Helfman appealed her case on the grounds of a procedural error by the discovered information” pertinent to the case, the lawsuit alleges. On that the appeal could proceed on the grounds of the error, although not on the basis of the new information. According to the suit, on Jan. 8, 2014, two days before a rescheduled hearing, Estabrook overturned the grounds of Helfman’s appeal complaint. At the time of Helfman’s case, Estabrook was associate vice president for student affairs and dean of Lawsuit, Page 2
really shown me how deeply comare so many pieces and it’s so thor-
international affairs and anthropology major, volunteers with the
the lawsuit alleges. On the walk to
join by a recruiter and did not intentionally seek out the position, she said it has been a good experience.
getting other people to go out and
canvasses with other volunteers in New Hampshire, going door to door to get people to vote, and
party, Helfman vomited due to alcohol consumption. Two female students attending the party said they would escort her home, at which point the male student she arrived with said he would take her
sexual assault in two parts: As oral, anal or vaginal penetration by an inanimate object, penis or other bodily part without consent, and secondly, as unwanted touching of the intimate body parts of another. Additional clarifying notes for consent include that the use of alcohol or other drugs by the charged student does not mitigate a violation of
to work for campaigns: To gain an understanding of the electoral system and how it works. Freshman political science, philosophy and economics major Gabriel Morris works for the Clinton campaign as well, but in a differPhoto Courtesy Gabriel Morris
VoLunteers, Page 2