Suicide by Rape Victim of University of Missouri Underscores Handling of Sexual Abuse

Saint Louis, Missouri – The tragic suicide of college coed Sasha Menu Courey following her rape off-campus underscores the issue of how University of Missouri handles sexual assault allegations. According to her parents, Courey was gang raped by as many as three football players and the incident should have been fully investigated by the school. Courey herself had been a member of the schools’ varsity swim team. For their part, the school is saying they were completely unaware of the rape allegation and for this reason had not conducted an investigation. They say it was a full 16 months after Ms. Corey’s suicide that they were appraised of the allegation. They say that they would have needed an interview with the victim and the names of her attackers.

However, the school is not standing idly by and allowing the controversy to explode based on any inaction on the part of the school. School President Tim Wolfe has recommended to that the curators authorize an independent law firm to examine how the university handled the rape incident of Ms. Courey. The school regent’s council, comprised of nine members, has approved the emergency request and plans to have both a firm named and a complete report by their next meeting on April 11.