A former Indiana University student who was expelled after being accused of rape is suing the university, saying it gave preferential treatment to the female student who accused him.
The Indianapolis Star reports that Aaron Farrer, a 21-year-old from Lafayette, Ind., contends in the suit that he was defamed and was a victim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. He also alleges his constitutional rights were violated.
"IU engaged in a gender-biased investigation of Farrer, which culminated in Farrer’s unlawful expulsion from IU," the suit asserts.
Farrer was accused of rape in September 2015 after a female student said Farrer took advantage of her drunken state, the Indiana Daily Student reported. The woman showed police a text message she received from Farrer apologizing for the incident. Farrer told police the woman consented to sex and initiated the act.
In November 2015, Farrer was expelled from Indiana University, according to court documents. In September 2016, criminal charges related to the alleged sexual assault were dismissed because of insufficient evidence.
Farrer's lawsuit says Indiana University created "a gender-biased, hostile environment against males." It accuses the university of disciplining male students who engage in physical contact initiated by female students, but failing to discipline female students who engage in the same conduct.
