And public disclosure of the details of the incident should have no effect on the type and degree of punishment administered to the attacker by the school. Hiding the facts serves no purpose other than to cause speculation and rumor, which distorts the story and inflates the significance of the event. Even more disturbing is the fact that this is not the first time the office of the Dean has refused to share important information with the student body. Last year, when the sexual assault of a Columbia student was reported to have occurred near campus, the Dean s office ignored repeated attempts by Chronicle reporters to gather details needed to report that the accusation was false, and chose to release a statement to the Associated Press before relating any information to campus news sources. Whether the Dean s office questions the competence of student-run news outlets or the office is just shy, students deserve the right to read news stories about unpleasant events on campus, in addition to news of the many positive events that take place here.
Students can only benefit from learning of crime and tragedy that occur on campus.
One would think that a school that prides itself on its learning opportunities outside the classroom would be eager for its students to examine this event. The Columbia Chronicle is a student produced publication of Columbia College Chicago and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of Columbia College administrators, faculty or students.