Clemson Continues to Punish Fraternity Over Sex Crime Allegation That Turned Out to Be Completely Fake

Clemson University, like all colleges, are trying to really crack down on sexual abuse and assault.  This, of course, is a noble endeavor, but what happens if the allegations are proven to false.? That’s exactly what happened when an 18-year-old Sarah Campbell said she was sexually assaulted at the fraternity house owned by Clemson’s Delta Chi.

The day after the accusation, Landon Flowers — the president of the school’s Intrafraternity Council (IFC) — made a bold and unequivocal statement.  By citing Campbell’s claims, he canceled all frat activities indefinitely.

Turns out, Campbell’s alleged “abuser” didn’t go to school at Clemson, didn’t belong to Delta Chi, and the sexual activity between the two was consensual.  Those are details that certainly should be taken into account when punishing the fraternity, no?  Not so fast.  You are applying common sense to an area where common sense goes to die: college campuses.

Eventually Campbell’s claims were shown to be false.   (She even faces felony charges for filing a false police report.)  So, how did the university respond?  With more and more regulations.  Campus Reform has the details about Flowers’s message to the frats:

“Before releasing the new procedures, I would like to address the information that people have seen on the news regarding the incident at the Delta Chi house that ultimately initiated the suspension on social events occurring on chapter premises,” Flowers said of the sexual assault claim cited in the procedure release.

“Regardless of what was released in the news today, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) Executive Board and IFC chapter presidents recognize that ‘house parties’ have not been fully executed according to our national risk management policies, and other incidents still warrant the new safety procedures be implemented,” Flowers continued, adding that “other incidents still warrant the new safety procedures be implemented.”

Also, the new policies require that all guests at fraternity house social functions present Clemson University ID’s, and register events five days prior.  Really? Has any frat party in the history of frat parties ever worked like this?  Of course not.  But, wait. There’s more!

Fraternities are also limited to “no more than four (4) co-sponsored hosted events,” “no more than five (5) single fraternity hosted events,” and “no more than seven (7) day parties/tailgates hosted events” on chapter premises per semester.

Additionally, a guest list for each fraternity house social events must be submitted to the IFC by “5pm the Wednesday before the event,” and an “attendance list should be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. the following Tuesday after the event takes place.” Fraternities must also provide three security guards or off-duty police officers at house social events and maintain a ratio of at least one fraternity member to three guests.

In other words, Campbell’s allegation was demonstrably false, but the university continues to punish the frat.  If Clemson fraternities don’t comply, the IFC Honor Court will levy “appropriate sanctions” (whatever those happen to be).

Though it’s important to punish people for violating other people’s sexual parameters, there also needs to be protection for those who are innocently accused.  The fact that Clemson continues to punish the frat in spite of its innocence shows they were just using the allegation as a thin excuse to punish the students either way.

Inexcusable.

Image Credit: Eli Duke on Flickr

Hat Tip: Truth Revolt and Campus Reform