UNC student claims she was raped by football player; Larry Fedora releases statement

A UNC student claims she was raped on campus by a football player earlier in 2015

A University of North Carolina student says she was rapped by Tar Heels linebacker Allen Artis.

The student says that the rape took place on Valentine’s Day at the Ram’s Village Apartments on campus. She claims the district attorney’s office and university have not held the player accountable.

The student has also requested warrants on Artis but the investigation has not gone any further.

Before speaking to the media on Tuesday, the student released a statement:

"When I entered Carolina as a freshman a little over a year ago, I was excited about new experiences, new friends, great faculty and classes. That all changed in February when I was assaulted and raped on campus.I did not realize that rather than receiving support and concern from the University, I would only be further victimized by the people who should be working to keep us safe.Yes, I was drinking that night on Valentine’s Day. I’m under age, and I take responsibility for that. But that doesn’t give anyone the right to violate me. I did not deserve to be raped.My life has changed forever, while the person who assaulted me continues as a student and a football player on this campus.After I was raped, I went to the hospital and gave an account of what I could remember to the sexual assault nurse. Then I was again quizzed by the DPS investigators, who consistently asked humiliating and accusatory questions. What was I wearing? What was I drinking? How much did I drink? How much did I eat that day? Did I lead him on? Have I hooked up with him before? Do I often have one night stands? Did I even say no? What is my sexual history? How many men have I slept with? I was treated like a suspect.My humiliation turned to anger when I listened to the recorded interviews of my rapist by DPS. Rather than accusing him of anything, the investigators spoke to him with a tone of comradery. They provided reassurances to him when he became upset. They even laughed with him when he told them how many girls’ phone numbers he had managed to get on the same night he raped me. They told him, “don’t sweat it, just keep on living your life and playing football.”This man raped me and the police told him not to sweat it. How can this happen? Where’s the protection for students? Why does the University not care that this rapist is free and could possibly harm another student?And if this happened to me, who else has been hurt and been too scared to come forward? And what other cases are being swept under the rug by the University?I did everything a rape victim is supposed to do. I reported it. I allowed the rape kit to be taken. I gave a statement. I cooperated with law enforcement and the Title IX office. But six months later the University has done nothing.I’m taking this public stand not for me, but for the other students on campus who are not protected, despite what the University tells us. I love this University. It’s my home. I plan on graduating. But I expect the University to fulfill its promises to me and to all students."

During the press conference, the student was joined by her father and her lawyer Denise Branch.

Branch said that the university violated its own Title IX provisions as it went through UNC’s Title IX office and investigative process.

The News & Observer’s Andrew Carter was at the press conference and tweeted the following:

We will update with more information when it becomes available.

UPDATE: Larry Fedora has released a statement