The University of Missouri is drawing criticism over its handling of the alleged sexual assault of a former swimmer. The news surfaced in an ESPN report released last week that tells the story of Sasha Menu Courey, a Mizzou swimmer who committed suicide in 2011, more than a year after she was allegedly assaulted by one or more members of the school’s football team.
The investigation questioned MU’s failure to report the assault to law enforcement, even after it was allegedly reported to a university administrator before Menu Courey died and in local media after she died. That administrator, who now works at a different university, told ESPN Menu Courey never told her about the assault.
This week on Intersection, we’ll talk about the story and the process surrounding this case. In the second half hour, we’ll re-air a conversation we had in October about sexual assault, and the way those cases are reported, investigated and prosecuted in Columbia, and specifically at the University of Missouri.
Panelists (first half):
Zachary Wilson is the Development Director at the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. His organization does research and provides education and assistance to individuals and organizations fighting domestic and sexual violence.
Katherine Reed is the public safety and health editor at the Columbia Missourian. There she’s been a reporter and editor on this story and numerous stories involving sexual assault in Columbia and at MU.
Tracy Cox is the communications director for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Founded in 2000, the organization serves as the national principal resource center on sexual assault (joining by phone).
Panelists (second half)
Zachary Wilson is the Development Director of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Mary Beck is the Director of the MU Domestic Violence Clinic. She’s also a Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Missouri.
Samantha Sunne is former reporter for the Columbia Missourian (joining the program by Skype).
Note: No video was recorded for this episode of Intersection.
