Amherst College criticized for handling of reported rape case

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - A new report says that Amherst College administrators failed to help a student after she said that she was raped on campus. The incident ultimately led to the resignation of a school counselor, and the launching of a school-wide investigation.

Last October, a former Amherst College's student's account of sexual assault was published as an editorial in the student newspaper.  Angie Epifano claimed that the school's counseling center did nothing to help her after she says she was raped on campus .

After that, Amherst College hired consultants and created an oversight committee to help the college improve its handling of allegations of sexual misconduct.

The committee’s investigation found that college support services were unreliable, and that some personnel were poorly trained. Amherst College senior Megan Doyen told 22News that the incident has created a heightened awareness around campus.

“I think it's going to take a lot more effort from the faculty, but also from the student body to try and get over this, move forward and try to be safer,” Doyen said.

The committee also found problems with some of the spaces the college uses for student gatherings or parties.  Some parties are held in the basement of dorms or living areas, and committee members say these types of spaces could "facilitate sexual misconduct."