“The leaders of America’s leading research universities bear the significant responsibility of providing the safest environment possible for hundreds of thousands of students in both undergraduate programs and graduate and professional schools,” according to the President of the Association of American Universities (AAU) in a January 2020 report. Many college students, however, still report and fear sexual misconduct at alarming rates on college campuses across the country. A 2020 report by the AAU found that over 35% of women believe that sexual assault and sexual misconduct are “very” or “extremely” problematic at their schools, an increase from 2015.

The Boston Globe reported on Feb. 20, 2021:

Students at Boston University are pressing the institution to take a tougher stand against sexual violence on campus.

Echoing similar demands on college campuses in the Boston area and around the country, the students are asking administrators to adopt stronger disciplinary procedures and help lead a transformation of the campus culture, which the students say is far too tolerant of sexual misconduct.

The Daily Free Press reported that “One hundred [and] one student groups and organizations — from arts to science to Greek Life — had pledged their support for sexual assault survivors and the movement, and vowed to advocate for stronger University policies for survivors, as of Feb. 6 [, 2021]”

Related News

Answering Students’ Concerns, Provost Pledges New Commitments on Sexual Assault Cases

Report on the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct

Hundreds protest campus sexual assault at universities across the U.S.

Female Student Sues BU over Alleged Sexual Assault in Dorm

AAU Releases 2019 Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct

POV: Governor Baker Signs Much Needed Campus Sexual Assault Bill

Experience Matters

Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice.  Our former prosecutors have extensive experience representing victims of all ages. The Legal Intelligencer named Sauder Schelkopf partners to its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers.  The honor recognizes 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlights our partner’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. The American Lawyer named Joe Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Northeast includes Maine, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.

Sexual Abuse

  • Sauder Schelkopf, and co-counsel, recently reached a $215 million settlement on behalf of female patients of Dr. George Tyndall, a gynecologist at the University of Southern California accused of sexual misconduct since the 1990s.  The settlement also included significant policy changes to prevent future sexual misconduct.
  • We have a class action lawsuit pending on behalf of males who were victims of sexual misconduct by Dr. Richard Strauss, the Ohio State team doctor, while they were students and student-athletes at Ohio State University.
  • We have been court-appointed as Interim Co-Class Counsel to represent former students of the University of Michigan who were victims of sexual misconduct by Dr. Robert E. Anderson, former director of University Health Service, and a former athletic team physician, who worked at the University of Michigan from 1968 until his retirement in 2003. We also filed a separate class action with co-counsel seeking non-economic relief seeking major reforms of the University of Michigan’s policies and procedures related to sexual assault and violence on campus.

We Want to Hear from You

If you are a survivor of sexual misconduct, you can confidentially contact the lawyers at Sauder Schelkopf by filling out the form on this page or calling 888.711.9975