The University of Iowa held a listening session this afternoon in response to recent sexual assaults on campus. There have been eight reported sexual assaults of students so far this academic year. During opening comments, U-I President Sally Mason discussed her own experience with sexual assault, while an undergraduate student in Lexington Kentucky.
Audio: Mason :22
“An individual in a trench coat grabbed me, grabbed my breast, and I was fortunate that I was able to pull away from him and get away from him. And it certainly left me shaken. And the truly sad thing was, that in 1970 I had no clue of what to do,” Mason says.
Mason came under fire earlier this week after the student newspaper printed an interview in which she said it was unlikely sexual assault would ever be completely stopped, because of “human nature.” Students began circulating a petition called “Not in My Nature,” and estimate they have received about 500 signatures.
The Board of Regents has called a special meeting via telephone Friday have to Mason explain her remarks.