1990s Timeline

A federal lawsuit leads to laws protecting survivors, but adjudication problems persist.

Jan 27, 1990

Freshman Raped While Unconscious

A freshman passes out in a dorm room during an evening of drinking before the Midwinter Ball. She wakes up vomiting in an unfamiliar bathroom and realizes she’s been sexually assaulted. (See Carleton Spotlight.)

Jan 28, 1990

Freshman Finds Her Perp

The freshman tracks down her assailant, who we’re calling “John Doe,” in the library, and demands to know if they had penetrative sex. He confesses and implies he didn’t use a condom.

Jan 29, 1990

Roosenraad Told of the Rape

The freshman’s mother comes to campus and together they meet with Roosenraad to describe what John Doe did a few days earlier. The student decides not to file a formal complaint.

Feb 22, 1990

Congress Enacts the Clery Act

It requires colleges and universities to collect and report campus crime data, support victims, and outline policies and procedures to improve safety. 

April 11, 1990 

Lawyer: Sexual Harassment Advisers Create Liability

The attorney hired by the college to consult on revising Carleton’s sexual misconduct policy notes her concern that the system of peer victim’s advocates established in the original 1983 policy creates a liability, as they can be seen as acting as “agents of the college” when they give advice to survivors.

April 27, 1990

“John Doe” Reoffends

The freshman has heard that her assailant raped two other students, and after a conversation with one of the victims she decides to file a formal complaint against him with the dean’s office.

May 22, 1990

Defanged Policy Passes College Council

The new sexual harassment policy (see Timeline for December 1989) omits the term “sexual assault,” minimum punishments for offenders, and a process for appeals. It goes on to the board of trustees for final approval before becoming policy.

May 24, 1990

Cleared of Wrongdoing

The JHB finds in favor of John Doe, even though his testimony is that she “initiated a chain of events” by kissing him and didn’t “resist” and even though the survivor presents evidence that she was unconscious. Doe is given no punishment. Seeing this play out, another student he raped decides not to file a complaint. She does, however, submit an “informal” complaint, which flags her case in his file. Roosenraad puts Doe on probation and requires him to undergo six counseling sessions.

June 21, 1990

Defanged Policy Is Official

With passage by the board of trustees, the new policy will go into effect in the fall, giving students fewer rights and protections than they had before.

Oct 8, 1990

Tone Deaf Campus Publication Advertising

A poster asking for submissions has the heading “Submit” and shows a woman being pinned and molested by disembodied hands. This leads to a long-running debate in the Carletonian about the conflict between freedom of speech and the right to be free from sexual harassment. 

Nov 2, 1990

SMASH to the Rescue

The college has promised that RAs will supply information to students about campus sexual harassment resources but it doesn’t come through, so the Student Movement Against Sexual Harassment distributes the info in floor meetings in every dorm. 

Nov 4, 1990 

A “Chosen One” Tells All

A freshman finds out she’s been designated this year’s “chosen one,” or sexual target, by the football team, and male friends warn her not to leave parties alone. She complains to the football coach and Dean Roosenraad but gets no relief, so she tells her story to the The New York Times. She’s also interviewed about it in Penthouse magazine, and President Lewis instructs the coach to instruct the team to abandon the practice, which it allegedly does.

Jan 25, 1991  

Escorts Are Finally Given Campus Job Status

Student security succeed in obtaining pay but no longer have the use of a car, so they’ll themselves be unprotected and walking alone after completing escorts. 

Feb 8, 1991

“We Will Not Be Silenced” 

Graffiti shows up on the walkways naming the student who raped the freshman and others in the winter of 1990. The victim and SMASH say they don’t know who’s responsible.

March 1991

“John Doe” Strikes Again

The student accused of several rapes last year is reported to the dean by a student who sees him dragging a woman into his dorm room by the hair. They live in a remote area of campus and she’s afraid of him so begins efforts to get a room change.

March 29, 1991

Lewis Reveals Federal Lawsuit Against Carleton 

The president holds a press conference and issues a letter revealing that four survivors have accused the college of failing to protect them from sexual assault. He says he’s “saddened” that the women “refused to accept” the decision of the JHB regarding their attackers. 

April 5, 1991 

Students Dismayed by Lewis’s Position

Two students write that they are “saddened” that Lewis refuses to critically examine “a system that has yielded disturbing results,” instead focusing on “why their complaints are illegitimate.” 

April 7, 1991

Bad Press

The New York Times and the Star Tribune are among the outlets publishing stories on the lawsuit.

April 12, 1991 

Rally for Survivors 

A rally and rape speakout draw sexual assault survivors and about 200 attendees. Some proceed to Lewis and Roosenraad’s offices to demand explanations for the accusations in the lawsuit.

April 17, 1991 

City Pages Feature “Rape and Red Tape”

A long feature describes the four students’ experiences trying to file charges against their rapists.

May 15, 1991

Carleton Suit Spurs Federal Legislation 

Propelled by the Carleton lawsuit to take action, Jim Ramstad (R-MN) introduces the Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights, which is signed into law in July 1992. 

June 3, 1991

National Press Covers Carleton Suit

A Time magazine feature on campus sexual assault includes photographs of the four Carleton plaintiffs.

Oct 11, 1991

Anita Hill Testifies

She tells the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, headed by Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), that she was sexually harassed by her boss, Supreme Court justice nominee Clarence Thomas. 

Sept 20, 1991

No Need for Ramstad Act 

At a public hearing, the Minnesota Private College Council of which Carleton is a member announces it’s stance against the Ramstad Bill for the protection of victims of sexual assault arguing that such measures would constitute governmental overreach. Speaking about it later, President Lewis suggested the proposed law was, “basically Congress trying to micromanage institutions.”

Jan 1992

Carleton Settles Out of Court

The federal lawsuit filed against Carleton by sexual assault survivors is settled for an undisclosed sum to be divided among the plaintiffs. Carleton also agrees to eight changes to its policies and practices on handling sexual misconduct complaints, including separating the roles of investigation and adjudication and developing educational programs and training.

Feb 7, 1992

CSA Advises Policy Changes

The CSA recommends adding the term “sexual assault,” assisting victims in reporting crimes to the police, and specifying that college and criminal proceedings can run concurrently.

Apr 30, 1992

State Law Results From Carleton Lawsuit

Minnesota governor Arne Carlson signs a new law ensuring protections for victims, including requiring colleges to assist them in reporting assaults to local authorities. 

Feb 28, 1992

Minnesota AG Demands Policy Clarifications

President Lewis creates an ad hoc committee to recommend changes to the sexual misconduct policy after Skip Humphrey directs all public and private institutions with students receiving state financial aid to create a policy on sexual harassment or update an existing one to include a distinction between sexual harassment and sexual assault or violence.

May 1, 1992

RAs Confidentiality Removed

Lewis asks the College Council to make RAs mandatory reporters of sexual assault. 

June 2, 1992

New Rules on Sexual Misconduct Complaints

Council approves revisions giving the dean adjudication on sexual harassment cases; JHB will function as board of appeals. 

July 1992 

Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights Signed by GWB

President Bush signs into law legislation guaranteeing rights for survivors of sexual assault in federal cases, which led to 21 states adopting similar legislation. The bipartisan Survivors' Bill of Rights in the States Act of 2016 now ensures that all survivors, not just those in federal cases, are protected.

Nov 1992

Cris Roosenraad Resigns as Dean of Students

He continues on as pre-med advisor and senior lecturer in mathematics until retiring with emeritus status in 2007.

Jan 28, 1994

RAs Confidentiality Returned

After strenuous objections and negotiations, students persuade the board of trustees to return to allowing RAs to be a confidential resource for students on sexual assault.

June 1995

Mediation Added as an Option After Sexual Misconduct

"This was done to give the victim more options, especially in cases when the victim knows the accused and doesn't want to go through normal channels." 

April 12, 1996

Terminations Over Sexual Harassment 

One adjunct faculty member is fired after a student alleges unwanted sexual behavior, as is a staff supervisor whom three students accuse of sexual harassment.

April 19.1996

Student Support Removed 

To dispel a conflict between investigation and counseling roles, the college announces plans to eliminate the position of chaplain’s assistant and advisor on sexual harassment and assault.

Sept 27, 1997

New Roles for Investigation, Adjudication

Complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault by students will now be investigated by two associate deans, with the dean of students ruling on sanctions. The president has the power to overrule any decisions.

Oct 23, 1997

Lewis: Survivors “Believe” They Were Raped

Survivor and campus assault activist Katie Koestner speaks on campus about her rape at William and Mary, pointing out that her rapist and the assailants involved in the Carleton lawsuit cases were all repeat offenders. Lewis concedes that these survivors all “believed they had been raped,” but continues to defend the college’s treatment of the offenders. 

Oct 30,1997

Assault Is More Than a “Women’s Issue” 

A letter to the editor objects that the paper marks articles about sexual assault with the logo they use to denote “women’s issues,” especially in light of articles in the paper addressing "the problem of overzealous campus feminism." 

Jan 26,1998

Bill Clinton Denies Sexual Relationship with Lewinsky

The president insists that he did not have sexual relations with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

April 14, 1998

Another Slap on the Wrist

Female students are awoken in their rooms in Goodhue by an intruder who attempts to sexually assault one of them but flees when each wakes. Security calls the Northfield police, and after he’s identified as a Carleton student, he’s removed from campus but only temporarily.

April 23, 1998

Key Cards at Last

Long-discussed locks are installed on the front doors of Carleton dorms. Security makes a point of urging students to lock their room doors as well.

May 21, 1998

Assailants Still Allowed to Stay

Students write that Carleton’s sexual assault policy “does an effective job of criticizing sexual assault and stating the college's intention to eliminate sexual assault on campus, but it is devoid of specific guidelines or recommendations. . . . The repetitive nature of violent sexual crimes makes it imperative that the College take a firm stance against the readmission of students convicted by the College's judicial processes.”

Oct 1, 1998 

Soft on Sexual Assault

A student writes, “I can hypothetically go out and commit an offensive action and in some cases get off with simply a warning. I might receive some counseling. Why would this deter anyone from committing sexual assault?”

Nov 1998

Hate-Speech Graffiti Appears

Students are alarmed on the first of multiple occasions when swastikas, racist language, and homophobic slurs are discovered on the walls of dorms.

Sept 29, 1999

Anti-Woman Graffitists Strike Campus

Extensive misogynist graffiti "of a sexual and obscene nature" is found in Goodhue. Students are informed that this constitutes sexual harassment.

Nov 5, 1999

Hate Speech Protocol Revised to Include Gender

Procedures developed last year to cope with repeated incidents of hate speech graffiti are expanded to include gender-based harassment as well.