Following a similar controversy at Cornell University, criticism is mounting against Stanford University for its mishandling and lenient disciplinary actions regarding an on-campus sexual assault case.
According to the Stanford Daily student newspaper on the 11th, Stanford undergraduate student Leo Rossiter (24) has been indicted for allegedly sexually assaulting a fellow female student and is facing a criminal trial. Although the university previously concluded through its own internal investigation that Rossiter was responsible for the sexual assault, the disciplinary action was limited to a two-year suspension. It was revealed that Rossiter returned to school after his suspension period ended and is currently attending classes on campus.
The incident occurred during a campus party in 2022. Rossiter is accused of sexually assaulting the female victim after walking her back to her dormitory while she was intoxicated. The female victim stated that Rossiter repeatedly demanded kisses, and when she refused, he committed the sexual assault.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, which took over the case, indicted Rossiter in October 2024 for raping a woman whose judgment was impaired by alcohol. A hearing to finalize the trial schedule is slated for December.
According to the Stanford Daily, the university determined during its internal investigation that Rossiter had inflicted severe sexual violence, including oral sex and digital penetration, without the victim’s consent. However, the university’s punishment was merely a two-year suspension. University authorities officially confirmed Rossiter’s current enrollment status, and the Stanford Daily reported that he is normally attending lectures on campus.
The victim also strongly criticized the sluggish response of the university and investigative agencies. In an anonymous op-ed published in the Stanford Daily on the 15th of last month, she vented, “It took a full two years just for the university’s internal investigation to conclude,” adding, “During that time, I had no choice but to skip classes out of fear of running into the accused student on campus.” She also claimed that her opportunity to study abroad was stripped away due to the university’s frequent rescheduling of investigations and procedural delays.
In particular, mentioning the recent Cornell University sexual assault controversy, she pointed out, “I too believed that justice would be served if I reported it to the school and investigative authorities, but what returned was only negligence and apathy.”
Previously, controversy erupted at Cornell University in September when a female victim filed a civil lawsuit regarding an alleged gang rape that occurred in 2024 at the ‘Chi Phi’ male fraternity. As public criticism intensified over the university’s lax handling, the Cornell University Faculty Senate passed a vote of no confidence against the president and university leadership on the 6th. Furthermore, facts regarding a lawsuit filed by two female students highlighting the university’s poor handling of reports in a separate sexual assault case have recently surfaced. The plaintiffs claimed that there are at least 5 to 10 additional victims who were sexually assaulted by the same male student.
Voices criticizing school authorities are growing louder inside Stanford University as well. Pelagia Martin, a member of the campus anti-sexual violence group ‘Resistance to the Rape Culture at Stanford’ (RRCUS), sharply criticized, “The school is failing victims once again by allowing a student criminally indicted for rape charges to return to campus.”
As the controversy grew, Stanford University spokesperson Angie Davis acknowledged some limitations, stating, “The campus investigation process is designed to be deliberate and thorough, which can cause it to take an excessively long time.” However, she avoided giving a direct answer regarding potential additional disciplinary actions based on the outcome of the future criminal trial.
Meanwhile, Rossiter’s side is completely denying the allegations. Rossiter’s defense attorney, Daniel Barton, rebutted to the Stanford Daily, “The client is innocent and has been pursuing legal action against false claims since 2022.”
