DURHAM, N.H. -- About 200 students rallied Tuesday at the University of New Hampshire to protest a ruling by the school's student judicial panel that cleared three male students of raping a freshman coed.
The rally, attended mostly by women students, was countered by male students from the dormitory where the woman was allegedly assaulted, who said the woman was 'guilty' of encouraging the men.
'There seems to be a problem on this university campus on the question of what is rape,' said a spokeswoman for the students protesting the action by the Student Judicial Board. 'Rape is something someone cannot or does not consent to.'
The women rallied to ask the UNH administration to declare 'null and void' last Thursday's acquittal by the board of the three male students, who still face criminal charges in Strafford County Superior Court in October.
Dean of Students Gregg Sanborn later promised that he would respond to the demand by Friday.
The woman has said she was sexually assaulted on Feb. 20 by the three men in a dormitory after a fraternity party. Police said she was too drunk to resist.
The suspects have said the woman encouraged their actions.
Jonathan Fox, 20, of Manchester, and Christopher Spann, 20, of Lexington, Mass., are charged with rape. Gordon Williams, 20, of Rochester, N.Y., is charged with sexual assault.
