3 College Park Students Expelled, 2 Suspended For Sexual Misconduct

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJZ) -- A new report shows an increase in the number of University of Maryland College Park students expelled for sexual misconduct. The report gives a first of its kind peak at how the school is handling sexual assault complaints.

Derek Valcourt breaks down the numbers and has reaction from students on campus.

It's not that this kind of sexual misconduct is necessarily happening more, but it certainly shows the school is taking it more seriously.

At the College Park campus, students are reacting to the details in a new sexual misconduct report by the university's office of civil rights.

"I think it builds trust for some of the women here," said Sarah Schmitz, graduate student.

The report outlines how the university handled sexual misconduct complaints during the 2014-2015 school year, when new policies and procedures saw the university fully investigate 13 formal complaints--more than in previous years--including seven cases of serious rape or sexual assault, three cases of stalking, two for sexual harassment and one case of relationship violence.

As a result, for the first time, three students were expelled in one year, two students were suspended and several others were also disciplined.

No one with the university was available to speak with WJZ on camera. Instead, they issued a written statement, saying the sexual misconduct report raises awareness on campus.

A spokesperson says: "These statistics are important so we can more effectively track these incidents and hold ourselves accountable for how we handle them."

"It makes me feel more uncomfortable that it happens on this campus," said Melissa Horovitz, student.

Students we talked to say the report is a good step in tackling a serious problem.

"Especially on college campuses, rape culture is definitely very prevalent. So I'm not surprised," said Aminah Arrey, student. "But I'm glad something's being done about it as well."

The university says more than half of the 48 formal sexual misconduct complaints they received were either resolved voluntarily or the complainant changed their mind and did not want to pursue an investigation.

As part of the university's policy changes, all students are now required to take an online training course to help them fully understand the school's sexual misconduct policy.