Shouts of “justice delayed is justice denied” and “students safety before reputation” were heard down Franklin Street as students and community members gathered for a Standing with Survivors Rally at the Peace and Justice Plaza Friday evening.
UNC Siren, a student-produced publication, hosted the event in reaction to sophomore Delaney Robinson’s recent allegations that the University mishandled her sexual assault case.
Campus organizations such as CHispA, the Campus Y, the Sexuality and Gender Alliance and Feminist Students United attended the rally and gave statements in support of sexual violence survivors.
"Some groups have claimed that the Carolina community does not stand for sexual assault, implying that Delaney Robinson’s case is unique and unfortunate — but the way that our University is currently designed, our systems have failed and they are complicit in the pervasive sexual assault that occurs on this campus,” Campus Y co-president Regan Buchanan said in a statement.
The rally opened up for survivors of sexual assault to speak out about their experiences. Survivors and attendees who did not want to take part in the speak-out were given the opportunity to go to the Campus Y as a safe place to decompress.
Jillian Murray, a former UNC student, said she was raped two years ago and has still not seen any progress with her case from the University.
“Delaney’s case is not unique,” she said. “UNC’s business is protecting their own reputation and that’s something that I don’t stand for — not only for myself but for the other survivors of sexual assault that are on this campus and feel silenced and feel marginalized.”
Murray said she is fighting for the University to make their proceedings more sound and more legally compliant because of her experiences the past two years.
