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Survivor of campus sex assault shares her story with Buffalo State students

WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley

A survivor of a campus sexual assault shared her story Tuesday with SUNY Buffalo State students. WBFO Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says Kylie Angell was raped at the University of Connecticut in 2010.

Angell bravely shared her story with Buffalo State students studying to be social workers. She was raped at the University of Connecticut. Initially the male student who raped her was expelled and was found guilty on four counts. But after he appealed, he was back on campus and no one notified Angell.

"I think it took colleges and universities a long time to crack down on sexual assault on college campus because no one was coming forward, or if they were, very few people we're coming forward," said Angell.

Angell said it is important that colleges work to change "rape culture."

"Rape culture is what needs to go away. I would also say we should tell the same thing to our young men and inform them of the statistics -- tell them that not all men are rapists -- only three percent of men are rapists. That there are so many good guys out there and we want those good guys to promote awareness," Angell noted.

Angell, 25, is now a nurse. She was one of five students who filed a federal lawsuit against UConn for its failure to respond properly to the sexual misconduct and failing to stop harassment on campus under Title IX. 

Credit WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley
25-year-old Kylie Angell shared her rape story to Buffalo State students studying to be social workers.

"I really didn't know I had rights as a student," said Angell. "They're there to read, but no one ever really tells you you're going to need them. You just kind of assume you will be safe."

The case was settled and now UConn is paying nearly $1.3 million.

"I think that UConn has made many strides. They made a lot of alterations to the police force. They did a complete revamping of it, found 79 areas of improvement and are working on it," said Angell.

Buffalo State continues hosting workshops teaching students about their rights and promotes the "I Love Consent" awareness campaign, sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office. The workshops raise awareness of the prevention of rapes and other sexual violence on campus.  Days after students moved into campus dorms at SUNY Buffalo State, an attempted sexual assault occurred in one of the buildings.  A female student reported the incident that occurred in her Porter Hall dorm room. Another student was charged. 

Angell now works to educate others about sexual assault.

"I have another wind and another feeling of empowerment and for the rest of my life I will be an activist for this cause," stated Angell. 

Credit WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley
25-year-old Kylie Angell talks about changes on campuses to deal with sex assault.

  
 

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