Family of alleged victim asks for action
University declines to comment on alleged rape of an OSU student studying abroad
Dan Traylor
Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: News
The mother of an OSU student who has alleged that she was raped by another OSU student while studying abroad in Hong Kong says the accused student has voluntarily withdrawn from the program.
Suzanne Drout - mother of OSU senior Amy Drout - said OSU officials, who last week traveled to Hong Kong to address the situation, told the family on Friday that the student had withdrawn.
Amy Drout alleges that on the weekend of Sept. 16, during a trip with friends, another OSU student from the program raped her. The Daily Barometer has not been able to confirm details of the story, and the only source of information is the account offered by Amy Drout and her family.
The family has been unhappy with OSU's response. Last week the family said OSU's response was too slow and was not addressing the issue properly.
The family also said that Amy Drout was forced to attend class with the accused student several times before he was told he could no longer do so by OSU officials on Oct. 10.
University officials have refused to comment, except to confirm that Dean of Students Jackie Balzer and Director of Student Conduct Dan Schwab traveled to Hong Kong last week to address a situation there involving an OSU student.
University spokesman Todd Simmons, citing federal privacy laws and the advice of OSU's general counsel's office, said the university must be careful not to do anything that might lead to the identification of any student involved in the situation.
Meanwhile, Suzanne Drout says that police in the area where the alleged rape occurred are investigating the case. She said the family remains hopeful that formal criminal charges will be issued. She said the family is also in contact with the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong.
"The consulate tells us that the chief of security (in the region where the alleged incident occurred) views this as a very serious situation and that they are doing a complete investigation," Suzanne Drout said.
Suzanne Drout, in a Sunday e-mail to OSU President Ed Ray, said the family wants a hearing on the issue to take place as soon as possible and that they want the accused student to be expelled.
The accused student did not return an e-mail seeking comment, and it is not clear whether or not he is still in Hong Kong. The Oregonian reported last week that he denied the allegations.
The allegations and Amy Drout's identity were first published by The Oregonian last week.
The newspaper noted that Drout and her family came to the paper and authorized the release of her name.
Suzanne Drout - mother of OSU senior Amy Drout - said OSU officials, who last week traveled to Hong Kong to address the situation, told the family on Friday that the student had withdrawn.
Amy Drout alleges that on the weekend of Sept. 16, during a trip with friends, another OSU student from the program raped her. The Daily Barometer has not been able to confirm details of the story, and the only source of information is the account offered by Amy Drout and her family.
The family has been unhappy with OSU's response. Last week the family said OSU's response was too slow and was not addressing the issue properly.
The family also said that Amy Drout was forced to attend class with the accused student several times before he was told he could no longer do so by OSU officials on Oct. 10.
University officials have refused to comment, except to confirm that Dean of Students Jackie Balzer and Director of Student Conduct Dan Schwab traveled to Hong Kong last week to address a situation there involving an OSU student.
University spokesman Todd Simmons, citing federal privacy laws and the advice of OSU's general counsel's office, said the university must be careful not to do anything that might lead to the identification of any student involved in the situation.
Meanwhile, Suzanne Drout says that police in the area where the alleged rape occurred are investigating the case. She said the family remains hopeful that formal criminal charges will be issued. She said the family is also in contact with the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong.
"The consulate tells us that the chief of security (in the region where the alleged incident occurred) views this as a very serious situation and that they are doing a complete investigation," Suzanne Drout said.
Suzanne Drout, in a Sunday e-mail to OSU President Ed Ray, said the family wants a hearing on the issue to take place as soon as possible and that they want the accused student to be expelled.
The accused student did not return an e-mail seeking comment, and it is not clear whether or not he is still in Hong Kong. The Oregonian reported last week that he denied the allegations.
The allegations and Amy Drout's identity were first published by The Oregonian last week.
The newspaper noted that Drout and her family came to the paper and authorized the release of her name.
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