Outrage over handling of alleged rape at Amherst College

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - A sexual assault scandal has rocked the Amherst College campus, and now one of the school's counselors has resigned.

The issue was made public when an Amherst College student's account of rape was published by the school's newspaper, The Amherst Student . In the October 17th article, Angie Epifano alleges she was raped on campus in May of 2011. Epifano says when she reported the incident to the school, the sexual assault counselor told her "pressing charges was useless."

Editor-in-Chief Brianda Reyes told 22News that the article received immediate and explosive reaction. “When I started seeing those comments, and I was approving them that day and for the next couple of days, I kind of understood the impact the story had not only at Amherst College, but across other campuses,” Reyes said.

Epifano withdrew from the college last summer. Her story led to the administration making widespread changes when it comes to reporting sexual assault. Among them, students are now part of the Title IX committee (which deals with gender equality) and two new psychotherapist positions will be added.

An Amherst College spokeswoman says that the nature of the counselor's leave is private, but she did resign. Classes are canceled at the college Friday, November 2nd, as the administration will host a series of talks for students and faculty, regarding sexual harassment.