A Message on Behalf of Vice President Rue

August 29, 2021

Dear Wake Forest community,

Recent social media posts, a student-organized demonstration on campus and an online petition claim that Wake Forest University has taken actions that undermine the safety and security of our community. We support our students in mobilizing to speak out about critical and painful topics.

Currently, University administrators are reaching out to schedule meetings with groups of students to hear concerns and talk about how the student conduct and Title IX processes work. We want to assure our community that those involved in conduct cases receive our full and intensive attention, and we take such matters very seriously.

We have systems and protocols in place to treat every student with integrity and compassion. Student conduct processes are complex, and cases alleging sexual misconduct are among the most complex faced by university student conduct systems. While the University adheres to federal law (FERPA) that prevents us from discussing the details of any student conduct case, University personnel adhere to well-established policies and procedures — including the Code of Conduct and Title IX — that apply equally to all students.

Wake Forest offers significant resources to support our students in times of need, and we are working to provide care for the students who have been affected and need the support of our community.

We are grateful to the students, faculty and staff who are coming together to continue to raise awareness about the importance of preventing and responding to sexual and other kinds of misconduct on our campus, and we remain committed to this ongoing work.

Sincerely,

Penny Rue
Vice President for Campus Life