Student seeks answers from the school system after sexual assault

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - She can't reveal her identity, but a New Hanover County student wants answers from the school system.

An incident off campus in March of 2015 resulted in a male classmate being charged and pleading guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery.

"There was not much done to separate the two of us," she said.

Last spring, she says they continued to walk the halls together until the last few days of school, but he was immediately suspended from a sports team at their school. He eventually transferred schools, but that's not why she is upset.

"We were hoping that if we got the restraining order, that would help with school aspect. It did not," she explained. That's because the student is still playing sports at his new high school, which she and her family don't think it's fair.

"I don't think they really knew how much of an impact their actions were having on me," she said about the school system allowing him to play sports.

The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act  prevents Deputy Superintendent Dr. Rick Holliday from going into detail.

We did, however, ask what the school's role is in protective orders and other state laws keep them from really getting involved, especially if an incident happens off campus.

"A court order cannot bring in an outside agency, such as the school system, to say you're a party to this because we're not in court. We haven't violated any laws or anything," Holliday explained.

For now, the young woman and her family are continuing to ask questions of the school systems to hopefully learn why he is still able to play two sports this year.

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