Student to meet John Abbott College officials over sexual assault claim

A John Abbott College student who claims she was sexually assaulted by a fellow student says she will be meeting withschool administrators next week.

The school suspended the male student after the alleged attack,but officials said this week they plannedto allow him back for thefall semester after police dropped the case.

• John Abbottstudent says police, college mishandled sexual assault allegations

CBC News is not revealing thealleged victim'sidentity because she fears for her safety.

The 19-year-old womanclaims that in June, a male student choked her, slapped her, forced her into a men's washroom on campusand made her perform oral sex.

She saidMontreal police did not take her allegations seriously and closed the investigation.

The womanplans to meet with the school next week to discuss how she and the male student will be re-integrated.

The student says she sometimes sees the alleged attacker on the bus on her way to school.

"It's going to be really hard on me if I do end up seeing him. I'll probably most likely end up having a panic attack," she said.

"To be honest, I don't really feel safe if he comes back to school.

She wants police investigators to reopen the case.

Lison Desclos, a spokesperson for John Abbott, confirmed Friday the school had arranged a meeting with the student.

Desclosdeclined to offer further comment.

Petition demands action

Anonline petition was launcheddemandingmore action from police and John Abbott College.

The petition, started by ConcordiaUniversitystudentElizabeth Hanley on Thursday, calls for the student accused of the assault to be suspended until the case is investigated more thoroughly.

It also calls for police and the college to apologize to the female student andfor the CEGEP to implement mandatory sexual-assault awareness programs for all first year students.

Hanley, aformer John Abbott student, said she doesn't know the alleged victim, but she feels it'simportant to highlight the case.

The petitionreached its 1,000-signature goal less than a day after being launched.