Indiana University puts associate dean on leave after allegations
An Indiana University official is at the center of a sexual assault investigation after allegations surfaced this week, Fox59 reported.
Jason Casares, who serves as the associate dean of students and deputy Title IX director, is on paid administration leave while university officials investigate claims against him. Officials began their investigation after a board member with the Association for Student Conduct Administration, Jill Creighton, wrote a letter dated Feb. 3 to members of the group. The letter surfaced online ahead of an annual ASCA conference in Florida Thursday.
IU released the following statement Friday morning:
"The university found out about this Wednesday evening when the accuser’s letter to her fellow members of the Association for Student Conduct Administration became public. He’s has been placed on paid administrative leave by the university while we investigate the claims made against him."
After reportedly learning Casares would attend the ASCA conference this week, Creighton, who identifies herself as ASCA’s president-elect, released her open letter on Twitter.
Creighton alleges Casares, who formerly served as the group’s president-elect, took advantage of her after she had too much to drink at a convention in Texas this past December. In the letter, Creighton states she filed a criminal complaint with Texas authorities.
Creighton goes on to say she felt unsafe with ASCA, stating the group failed to protect her even after Casares resigned from the board of directors. The woman wrote the group, which trains and offers guidance for college officials dealing with student misconduct, including sexual assault, allowed Casares to attend this week’s conference.
Creighton’s letter reads in part:
"I also could not stand the hypocrisy of Jason parading his expertise on Title IX, knowing how he had behaved with me. While I knew it could blow up in my face, and that I had nothing to gain but my own sense of safety, I asked ASCA to impeach Jason.
"When Jason resigned, I was shocked to learn that he was still planning to attend the conference, and was still planning to present his sessions on Title IX, though several of his co-presenters have backed out of co-presenting with him. He is under criminal investigation for a sex offense, and ASCA is still allowing him to present. I needed a safe space, and to be able to attend this conference free of the hostile environment that his presence creates for me. ASCA has failed to protect me."
Casares was hired at Indiana University in 2011.