UNC Assaults
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:37 am
http://www.courier-tribune.com/news/201 ... udges-rule
RALEIGH — UNC Chapel Hill must provide the public with the names of students and employees found responsible for rape, sexual assault or related offenses through the school’s honor court and other internal procedures.
The North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a ruling on Tuesday disputing the university’s claims that federal law prohibits UNC Chapel Hill officials from turning over such records.
The unanimous ruling came almost a month after attorneys for the Daily Tar Heel, the UNC student newspaper, and other media organizations made arguments in a special court session held at NC Central University in Durham.
The court case stems from a Sept. 30 public information request by The Daily Tar Heel. Reporters asked for records “in connection with a person having been found responsible for rape, sexual assault or any related or lesser” offense by the school’s honor court, the Committee on Student Conduct or the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office.
The university declined to provide the information, calling the data “educational records” protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The Daily Tar Heel, the Charlotte Observer, the (Durham) Herald-Sun and WRAL filed a lawsuit.
In May 2017, Judge Allen Baddour ruled in Orange County that federal law protecting student records supersedes state law that allows for the release of such information in some cases.
RALEIGH — UNC Chapel Hill must provide the public with the names of students and employees found responsible for rape, sexual assault or related offenses through the school’s honor court and other internal procedures.
The North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a ruling on Tuesday disputing the university’s claims that federal law prohibits UNC Chapel Hill officials from turning over such records.
The unanimous ruling came almost a month after attorneys for the Daily Tar Heel, the UNC student newspaper, and other media organizations made arguments in a special court session held at NC Central University in Durham.
The court case stems from a Sept. 30 public information request by The Daily Tar Heel. Reporters asked for records “in connection with a person having been found responsible for rape, sexual assault or any related or lesser” offense by the school’s honor court, the Committee on Student Conduct or the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office.
The university declined to provide the information, calling the data “educational records” protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The Daily Tar Heel, the Charlotte Observer, the (Durham) Herald-Sun and WRAL filed a lawsuit.
In May 2017, Judge Allen Baddour ruled in Orange County that federal law protecting student records supersedes state law that allows for the release of such information in some cases.