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Dear AU community,
I know we have a lot of messages this week, but the start of the semester has a lot happening. I am writing to share important progress on the 2022 Leonard Hall incident. Last month, law enforcement officials arrested an individual on burglary and attempted sexual misconduct charges related to this matter. The individual, who was barred previously from campus last academic year as we worked with the DC Metropolitan Police on the investigation, is prohibited permanently from being part of the AU community in any way. The arrest occurred as the fall semester concluded and the community was already leaving for the winter break. We wanted to share this news when the community returned in full.
I want to commend and thank our AUPD team for their tireless work on this important matter. Assistant Vice President Phil Morse and the AUPD detectives and officers appreciate the importance of sending a clear message about our intolerance for sexual misconduct and diligently pursued this matter from the outset through this arrest. Their priority is the safety of our community. I also want to thank our law enforcement partners in the DC Metropolitan Police Department.
The Leonard Hall incident was traumatic for the survivors and a difficult matter for our community. From the challenging time came important work and improvements, such as the required in-person Empower AU training during student orientation that occurred this fall and expanded information and resources for survivors. I hope this law enforcement action and the ongoing work to prevent and respond to sexual assault and harassment brings a measure of closure and relief.
Moving forward, we are focused on our continuing actions such as our participation in the NASPA Culture of Respect program and ongoing work on a Survivor’s Bill of Rights. These efforts, as well as additional topics and programs that began last year, are a priority across the university and our leadership team and will continue to feature close collaboration with students, faculty, and staff.
I also want to make sure our community knows that we are aggressively moving forward with the FBI on the investigations of campus incidents from last fall. All of this important work supports and advances a safe and welcoming AU community that is our shared priority.
Sincerely,
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Sylvia M. Burwell
President, American University
Bronté Burleigh-Jones
CFO, Vice President, and Treasurer