CU Protestors Demand Suspension Of Man Accused Of Sexual Assault

BOULDER, CO -- University of Colorado-Boulder student activists and survivors of sexual assault gathered on the school's campus Monday to call for the suspension of a student accused of sexually assaulting another CU student, the Daily Camera reports. Zachary Orion Roper, 19, is currently charged with two felony counts of sexual assault in the case. According to the Camera, one of the survivors who spoke at the protest said that the suspect had previously assaulted her.

"College students need to unite to stop rape culture," protest organizer and graduate student Samantha West told the Camera. The protestors asked CU to suspend Roper for the time being, and expel him if he is found guilty of the charges.

According to an arrest affidavit, the victim was sent home from a sorority event to her in an Uber with Roper. The Uber driver told police that Roper changed their destination to his apartment. The victim, who drank throughout the night and needed help getting out of the car, told police she awoke later in the night to Roper sexually assaulting her.

"We pay for an environment that is nonhostile," West said to a crowd of around 30 people, according to the Camera. "Do you think that we pay thousands of dollars so that someone can feel entitled to our bodies? No. Do we go into thousands of dollars worth of debt to just run into your assailant on campus? No."

Get the full story from the Daily Camera here.

Do you like this article? Join the Boulder Patch on Facebook! Stay in touch with the news and events that shape Boulder County. Sign up for your free Patch newsletter here.