Student to meet John Abbott College officials over sexual assault claim
19-year-old woman alleges police, school didn't take her allegations seriously
A John Abbott College student who claims she was sexually assaulted by a fellow student says she will be meeting with school administrators next week.
The school suspended the male student after the alleged attack, but officials said this week they planned to allow him back for the fall semester after police dropped the case.
CBC News is not revealing the alleged victim's identity because she fears for her safety.
The 19-year-old woman claims that in June, a male student choked her, slapped her, forced her into a men's washroom on campus and made her perform oral sex.
She said Montreal police did not take her allegations seriously and closed the investigation.
The student says she sometimes sees the alleged attacker on the bus on her way to school.
"It's going to be really hard on me if I do end up seeing him. I'll probably most likely end up having a panic attack," she said.
"To be honest, I don't really feel safe if he comes back to school.
She wants police investigators to reopen the case.
Police have closed the file. Woman says <a href="https://twitter.com/SPVM">@spvm</a> told her they don't believe her story.
—@TurnbullJayLison Desclos, a spokesperson for John Abbott, confirmed Friday the school had arranged a meeting with the student.
Desclos declined to offer further comment.
Petition demands action
An online petition was launched demanding more action from police and John Abbott College.
The petition, started by Concordia University student Elizabeth Hanley on Thursday, calls for the student accused of the assault to be suspended until the case is investigated more thoroughly.
It also calls for police and the college to apologize to the female student and for the CEGEP to implement mandatory sexual-assault awareness programs for all first year students.
Hanley, a former John Abbott student, said she doesn't know the alleged victim, but she feels it's important to highlight the case.
The petition reached its 1,000-signature goal less than a day after being launched.
With files from Steve Rukavina and Jay Turnbull