Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Assault During Virginia Military Institute Open House
A lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court in Lynchburg brings forward disturbing allegations surrounding a 2021 overnight open house at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). The plaintiff, a prospective female student referred to as Jane Doe in court records, claims that she was sexually assaulted by a cadet during the event.
The incident in question took place when Jane Doe, a high school student interested in attending VMI, was assigned to share a room with a cadet host, as part of the two-day open house. This open house, as described on VMI’s website, serves as an opportunity for high school students to gain firsthand experience of cadet life. Jane Doe attended the event with her parents, who have strong connections to the institution.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged assault occurred on September 18, 2021. On the same day, after leaving the campus with her parents, Jane Doe disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted in a highly distressed manner. The lawsuit does not reveal the identity or gender of the cadet involved.
The following day, Jane Doe’s father reported the incident to VMI Police, and the matter was subsequently handed over to the school’s Title IX coordinator. In December, Superintendent Cedric Wins informed Jane Doe’s parents that her claims had been considered unfounded, providing no further details, according to the lawsuit.
Jane Doe’s lawsuit accuses VMI and its board of visitors of violating Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination against students, prospective students, and employees of public schools.
“The environment in which Jane Doe stayed was dangerous due to VMI’s deliberate indifference to campus safety and Title IX protections,” alleges the lawsuit.
The legal action contends that VMI failed to uphold a safe campus environment as required by federal law and mishandled Jane Doe’s complaint through the Title IX process. It further asserts that the student and her family were not adequately informed of their rights under the law or provided with written statements of the investigation’s findings.
While the lawsuit seeks a federal injunction mandating VMI’s compliance with all Title IX requirements, it does not specify a particular amount of damages. Jane Doe, who ultimately chose not to apply to VMI, claims to have suffered economic and emotional harm due to the institution’s alleged mishandling of her case, which the lawsuit describes as “severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive.”
In response to inquiries, a VMI spokeswoman declined to comment on the case, citing the institution’s policy of not discussing pending litigation. Tommy Strelka, the Roanoke attorney who filed the lawsuit, also refrained from making any comments.
The allegations against VMI come in the wake of a 2021 state-sanctioned report that found the institution had failed to address issues of institutional racism and sexism, emphasizing the need for accountability and change.