A civil lawsuit has been filed against Santa Barbara City College for apparently ignoring the complaints of a female student, who had accused a fellow student of sexual harassment.
Details on the Lawsuit
The lawsuit has been filed against the college by Christian Dungey, a 51 year old woman who is pursuing an associate’s degree in counseling from Santa Barbara City College. Dungey, who had been associated with the hospitality industry for a long time, thought that it was time for a career change and decided to become an addiction counselor.
In August 2018, she enrolled herself in three courses along with a number of other students from different age groups.
When the classes started, a male student from her study group started harassing her. Dungey claims that the man texted her on a frequent basis and asked her several questions that could be considered private and intrusive.
She also says that he made sexual remarks from time to time, describing her physical appearance in vivid detail.
Dungey says that she was uncomfortable with the way the person in question interacted with her – both in person as well as on the phone. As his comments become increasingly intrusive, she was scared and started worrying about her safety.
Apathy of College Administrators
Dungey says that she immediately brought the issue to the attention of the administrators. The administrators, however, paid no attention to her complaints despite her repeated requests.
Not only did they fail to take any action, but at one point, they apparently told her that if she was intent on avoiding the person in question, she should drop out of school.
Frustrated, Dungey approached Santa Barbara Police and informed them of her ordeal. The officials immediately ran a background check on the male student who was accused of sexual harassment and found out that he had been convicted of sexual assault before and spent many years in prison.
Dungey says that the college administration failed in its duty to address her concerns, which have now been proven to be entirely valid. As a result, she was terrorized and traumatized by a sexual predator for weeks – on the college campus.
Dungey has filed a civil suit against the college in Santa Barbara County Superior Court. She is seeking damages for the mental agony and trauma she went through as a direct result of the apathy and inaction of the college administration.
The Problem of Sexual Harassment in College Campuses
Sexual harassment is far too common in college campuses across the country, which is definitely a worrying sign, to say the least. Female students are harassed by fellow students and even teachers in many cases.
The problem is compounded by the apathy of administrators, who have the responsibility of making sure that every student – irrespective of their age or gender – feels safe and secure within the campus.
In such cases, the worst possible thing you can do is to remain silent and continue to suffer without taking any action. California has some of the most stringent laws against sexual harassment and you can definitely get justice if you are represented by a competent attorney.
Makarem & Associates – Sexual Harassment Attorneys in California If you ever find yourself at the receiving end of sexually inappropriate behavior, get in touch with us. We can assess your situation and tell you what your options are.
If you ever find yourself at the receiving end of sexually inappropriate behavior, get in touch with us. We can assess your situation and tell you what your options are.
We know this arena – we are immersed in it and we have a long track record of success.
We can legally represent you in a court of law, defend your rights and interests aggressively, and make sure you are compensated for your suffering.
Our attorneys can be contacted at [email protected] and at 310-312-0299.
