Student With History Of Violence Not A Good Hire For University

It would make sense for a college to consider hiring its former students. Unless the former student had a known history of violence and drug use. An employee with that background could harm someone. He might even rape a female student. What was St. Leo College thinking? The St. Petersburg Times article shows why a history of violence is not a good idea in a dormitory.

It is getting harder and harder to hire good people. I guess it would make sense for a university to consider its former students. Unless the former student had a known history of violence and drug use. An employee with that background could harm someone. He might even rape a female student. What was St. Leo University thinking? The St. Petersburg Times article shows why a history of violence is not a good idea in a dormitory.

“With Saint Leo as your partner, you can “let go” with full confidence. Your college student is part of a safe, nurturing community that celebrates learning, supports each individual, and takes pride in the achievements of all.” These reassuring words are posted on the St. Leo University website.

The Times news article depicts something well short of a safe, nurturing community for one female student.

ST. LEO – A 2003 lawsuit filed against Saint Leo University by a former student who alleged she was drugged and raped in her dorm by a university employee was recently settled.

“It’s been resolved,” said Tampa lawyer Andrew Brown, who represented the university.

The alleged incident occurred in December 2002, according to the lawsuit.

“There was an investigation,” said Pasco Sheriff’s spokesman Doug Tobin, “but no arrest.”

The lawsuit sought more than $15,000 in damages, qualifying it for circuit court. According to the lawsuit and a sheriff’s report, the university employee – who had a history of violent behavior as a student before his employment there – slipped something into the woman’s drink at a bar, which made her sick and caused her to lose consciousness.

The student told deputies she “had a lot to drink,” that night, then awoke in her dorm room without remembering how she arrived. She contacted some friends via computer, she said, then apparently passed out again. When she awoke next, she found her alleged attacker on top of her. According to the lawsuit, the man “intentionally and maliciously touched,” the student and “without her consent raped her.”

The lawsuit also accused the university of negligence in both its hiring policies and security practices. According to the lawsuit, the accused “had a history of violent behavior and drug use on the campus of Saint Leo University while he was a student there, which had previously resulted in injury to another student at the university.”

The university was aware of this, the lawsuit said, and “knew or should have known” about his history of drug use. That employee, a Saint Leo graduate, no longer works at the university, Brown said. After the incident was reported, the sheriff’s report said, a university official asked deputies to order the man off campus. The student who sued also no longer attends the school.