A University of Rhode Island student has filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the university defamed her after a male intruded into a unisex bathroom, filmed her while showering, and the institution then mishandled the incident. The victim, identified only as “Jane Doe,” alleges URI’s actions exacerbated her trauma through careless public statements.
The lawsuit states that on April 29, 2025, while showering in a unisex bathroom in Adams Hall, Doe discovered a male, later identified as “J.P.,” recording her through a mobile phone. She immediately reported the incident to campus police. Doe claims URI failed to notify the student body, failed to remove the perpetrator from campus immediately, and did not bolster safety measures following the incident.
Doe further alleges that URI verbally communicated to third parties that the perpetrator was “known to her, as the victim,” thereby making her identifiable and defaming her by implication. The suit was originally filed in Rhode Island Superior Court and refiled in U.S. District Court for Rhode Island last week.
She names multiple defendants, including the Rhode Island Council for Postsecondary Education and “J.P.,” and seeks compensation for emotional distress, defamation, Title IX violations, breach of contract, and the loss of a merit-based scholarship. The suit also claims URI delayed the appeals process related to her scholarship loss, compounding emotional and academic damage.
The legal filing includes eight claims: assault (against J.P.), negligence, defamation, Title IX violation, breach of contract, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and punitive damages (against URI and the board).
This lawsuit surfaces as universities nationwide face growing scrutiny over campus safety, gender-neutral policies, and how political ideologies are influencing institutional responses. Critics argue that higher education’s obsession with gender inclusivity often comes at the expense of basic protections for women. The use of unisex facilities and the reluctance to confront male misconduct, particularly when aligned with progressive narratives, continues to raise concern among parents, students, and lawmakers.
