STANCIK SLAMS BOARD POLICY

Schools Investigator Ed Stancik blasted the Board of Education's suspension hearings, which he said put young, defenseless victims of sex attacks on trial.  Students who are sexually abused by classmates are treated worse than adult rape victims because the board's policy is tilted too far toward protecting accused predators.  During disciplinary hearings, an alleged sex offender facing suspension is permitted to have his lawyer grill the victim and even ask about her sexual history.  Criminal trials usually bar such a line of questioning.  To make matters worse, the victims are not allowed to have their own lawyers present.

(New York)