School officials from Bob Jones University made victims of sexual abuse feel to blame, according to a new report.
Sexual abuse survivors at the took a confidential survey as part of an independent investigation commissioned by the Christian university in South Carolina.
Of the participants of the survey 62 percent said student reports of sexual abuse or assault was "blaming and disparaging," reported Reuters.
Some victims said when they were asked for help school officials would respond by saying "A woman who was raped or sexually abused brought it on herself." One victim who reported being abused by a grandfather said Bob Jones University staff asked: "Did your body respond favorably? If it did, then you need to repent."
The alleged responses line up with the survey that looked at university staff who were apparently not trained to council victims of sexual abuse.
University President Steve Pettit apologized to his students who were victims of sexual assault after the survey was completed, reported Reuters. He said the school had changed its practices in recent years to "make it clear the biblical lesson of forgiveness does not imply that the victim is in any way responsible for the sexual assault or abuse they experienced."
A committee has been appointed at Bob Jones University to review the findings and make the appropriate changes at the institution that "better reflects our values and shows victims the love of Jesus Christ," reported Reuters.
