The amount of students who have experienced sexual assault and harassment, at the hands of BU students and faculty alike, will surprise you. Over 98 students have come forward and spoken out and more testimonials surface every day, leaving the BU student body and Boston community alike awe-struck at the sheer negligence and inhumane treatment of survivors. The number of experiences cannot be quantified in numbers, not all students are comfortable enough to share their peace, however, I will speak for all of them. We will speak for all of them. We are not victims. We are survivors and BU refuses to see us and acknowledge our plight. Despite our efforts to bring attention to the issue at hand, the administration refuses to take direct and meaningful action. Words speak loud, but actions speak louder. We must take our university back, we cannot sit on empty promises and hope that one day our administration will listen.
 
The following is my story, taken from my testimonial posted on social media:

The fall semester of my sophomore year I began to lose myself. Trusting what I thought was a mentor, my professor, blindly allowing his incessant messages, him pushing to me divulging my personal life, him stroking my arm and my hand. I failed to realize how inappropriate he was being with me. I trusted him. I trusted he would help me. Help me in terms of research, help me learn and grow as a student. He stunted all of this. He hurt me and he receives no repercussions - none that I know of that is. 
My process began in May of 2020. I received my results in August of 2020. He appealed, a process in which the university policy states takes two weeks, was dragged out. Did you know, only professors can appeal in cases of students vs. professors? I received my results October 17, 2020 - so much for 2 weeks. BU did not follow their policy, and when I pointed it out they did nothing but tell me I was looking at a past policy, and they linked the new policy that said the exact same thing. I emailed inquiring about his sanctions in November. No response. January 7, 2021, I emailed my university begging to know, as the victim of the harassment, what will happen with this professor. Verbatim, “I am unable to share the details with you, as an employee’s personnel file is private, just as student educational records are private.” Summer of 2020 he participated in UROP. Fall semester 2020 he was teaching. Spring semester 2021 he is teaching. He still has his lab. 
In March 2020, this professor broke one of his interim measures, by texting me yet again. The university promises to take severe measures to violations of interim measures, according to their policy. Again, no repercussions I know of. Mind you, one of his interim measures was to “not enter undergraduate’s bedrooms.” I thought that went without saying. 
 I cannot rest knowing this sexual predator still works for the biology department. Knowing there are three known victims, this is a pattern. He won’t stop, and BU will not make him. Help me help the girls, who blindly trust professors, those in power. Those who miss the signals and do not express uncomfortability, because they worry about jeopardizing their educational career as a result. See, I won my case, and he is still teaching. What will it take for BU to protect their students?

Your university condones sexual assault and harassment, are you proud to BU?