MU issues longer response to Sasha Menu Courey case

The University of Missouri issued a longer response on Tuesday about the Sasha Menu Courey case. Officials answered specific questions about how they handled the claims of rape by the former swimmer. They emphasized there was no formal request for an investigation or concrete information until after the ESPN investigation surfaced.

According to ESPN, Sasha was allegedly assaulted by a member of the football team off campus in February 2010. Because of the new details, the university said campus police turned over information this weekend to the Columbia Police Department.

Sasha took her own life in January 2011. She was also treated at university facilities after a suicide attempt, but MU officials said only her healthcare providers knew about the attack.

MU officials reiterated they did not know about a possible sexual assault until late 2012, when they uncovered an online chat with a crisis hotline. The school claims Sasha’s parents did not respond to their request to launch an investigation because of the new information.

University of Missouri officials said they did not have any further specifics about the attack until the ESPN report.

Tuesday the University says, “Sasha had never reported this (sexual assault) to university officials or requested an investigation while she was alive, and the transcript did not include the name of an assailant or any other specific information that would prompt an investigation.”

The transcript the school is referring to was her conversation with a crisis hotline about her alleged sexual assault.

The University went on to say how Sasha’s parents also did not ask for an investigation even after the school reached out to her family.

Questions were answered Tuesday about Sasha’s time on the swim team. “Sasha was never taken off the swim team… Sasha’s scholarship was not cancelled even upon her withdrawal from classes,” said the University.”

The University explained how it supports President Wolfe’s decision of calling for an independent investigation, “We feel that University of Missouri personnel did everything possible considering the amount of information available at the time to help Sasha Menu Courey, we support a full review of the University’s policies and procedures and look forward to any potential improvements that might be identified.”