UC students call for punishment of campus rape suspect

BERKELEY, Calif. (KTVU) - About a dozen UC Berkeley students and members of the group "By Any Means Necessary" loudly protested outside a hearing was to determine whether a student they say raped a co-ed last year should be punished.

The protesters want him expelled.

"We're building a student-lead independent movement to put the pressure not just on the administration, but on the rapist, and force them out and expel them. So survivors can go to college campuses without having fear about running into the rapist," said  Angela Dancev of By Any Means Necessary

Student Stephanie Garcia has publicly claimed the student raped her in a dorm room in October of 2014. Her supporters have posted flyers all over campus with the title rapist above the student's name and picture.

But the Alameda County District Attorney's office says it reviewed the case and declined to press any charges.

The university says the student was last enrolled in the fall of 2014, but that it is prohibited by law from commenting further.

The university did say it has taken steps to encourage victims of sexual assault to come forward.

"Everything from increasing the number of survivor advocates, support for survivors, to strengthening policies to having a one-stop place to go on the web where they can find all the resources," said UC Berkeley spokeswoman Janet Gilmore.

The hearing was before a panel from the center for student conduct, comprised of students, faculty and university staff. One student said the protest was troubling, saying it flies against the right of due process.

"Regardless of how this case goes the student may be to worried to come back to campus because he may feel intimidated by this ideology," said the student, who asked KTVU not to use his name.

"This is how you stop rape. You hold them accountable," said Dancev.

Any decision can be appealed to the Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs, who has final say.