UO professor launches study to find rate of campus sex assaults

EUGENE, Ore. – University of Oregon psychology Professor Jennifer Freyd, who consults the White House on sexual violence, has been studying the topic for more than 20 years. She also knows college sports, serving on UO’s intercollegiate athletics committee.

Freyd says KATU’s recent special report on the University of Oregon’s handling of an alleged sex assault case involving three basketball players was eye-opening.

"I thought it was really important, and I learned things in it that I didn't know,” Freyd said. “I was kind of astonished actually … I'm really glad that there is investigative journalism going on."

Freyd is an investigator herself. She's launched a survey that's expected to have a huge impact when results are revealed at the end of the month. For the first time, it will provide scientific data on the rates of sexual assault and harassment at UO.

"We're inviting a randomly selected sample of undergraduates to complete an online survey," Freyd said.

Getting the study off the ground has been tough. Freyd had to find alternative funding for it this summer after the administration refused to pay for it.

“This university has had something of a problem with secrecy in general over the last, say, 10 years," Freyd said.

The administration's panel that's reviewing sexual assault policies is planning to hold a survey of its own within the next year, but Freyd is critical of that group, which holds most of its meetings in private.

"It is probably the most important topic to make as transparent as possible," Freyd said.

The panel was formed after three basketball players were accused of alleged sexual assault in March.

On Tuesday, however, the acting chair admitted to KATU’s On Your Side Investigators that the group is not studying the March case.

Freyd says that's unacceptable.

"That was also shocking to me,” she said. “I didn't realize that, and I'm really disappointed in that because I think they've got a lot of resources."

That’s not to say there won't be an outside review.

KATU’s On Your Side Investigators, meanwhile, pressed the NCAA about findings from KATU’s Protecting the Program report. The report suggested the University of Oregon delayed its investigation into an alleged sex assault case involving three basketball players and as a result the basketball program avoided academic penalties.

KATU sent the report to the NCAA last week and asked them about it Thursday. A NCAA spokeswoman said the group cannot comment on current, pending or potential investigations.

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