Student sexual harassment adviser committed two sexual assaults, lawsuit against Princeton claims

A lawsuit recently filed against Princeton University alleged that a student involved in the University’s SHARE program committed two sexual assaults in 2014.

The plaintiff’s alleged attacker is currently a student member of Princeton’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Advising, Resources and Education (SHARE), however it not clear when he became a member, according to the lawsuit. This student’s information was allegedly removed from SHARE’s website for privacy reasons according to a recent filing on the case.

The claim was made in the Title IX lawsuit John Doe v. Princeton University, filed March 9 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

In response, the University strongly defended SHARE’s policies and hiring practices and said that it was committed to fighting the lawsuit in court.

“We have a rigorous application process such that a student found responsible for sexual misconduct would not be eligible to become a peer or to remain a peer,” Daniel Day, University Assistant Vice President for Communications, wrote in an email.

“Each year, the program reviews the past performance and disciplinary history of all applicants and current members, and peers not living up to the high standards of behavior are asked to step down from their role as a SHARE peer.”

Besides the SHARE peers, there are also “associate members” of SHARE, “who are allies of the program,” Day said. The associate members do not have any responsibilities in the program, and are not vetted before joining.

It was not clear if the lawsuit claimed that the alleged attacker was a SHARE peer or an associate member.

SHARE identifies itself on its website as “a survivor-centered, trauma-informed confidential resource on campus for the Princeton University community.” A division of the University founded in 1988, its student peers help survivors of sexual assault, among others.