GFU’s Settlement: How NOT to Take Care of Women

Reported By: Benny Schorie

Illustrated By: Sydney Simmons

This month, former student Camilla Carpenter settled a lawsuit for $4 million against George Fox University (GFU) and another former student Marshall Magill on claims of sexual assault and domestic abuse. Carpenter alleged that Magill threatened her with violence and smashed objects in front of her on multiple occasions; she also alleged he sexually assaulted her while unconscious multiple times and recorded it twice, according to the complaint filed by Carpenter. In 2020, Magill was indicted on criminal charges, but the charges were dropped by the district attorney’s office. However, Magill did settle in a civil case last year. 

Carpenter alleged negligence against GFU for not pursuing an investigation upon her reports of Magill’s threats and use of violence. According to the complaint, she reported to the counseling center despite “fear she would be found in violation of the school’s student code of conduct and expelled.” The suit also alleged “that [GFU’s] practice of punishing or expelling female students who engage in sexual activity creates a barrier to education based upon gender” and thus violates Title IX. 

This case brings to light problems within the culture created and perpetuated by GFU. Carpenter’s fears about being reprimanded for coming forward about her domestic abuse stem from the purity culture of the institution. Her experiences center around the fears and guilt instilled in her by purity culture which disproportionately puts pressure on the maintenance of a woman’s virginity in order to remain “pure” before God and for the sake of her future husband. While purity culture’s origins were well intended, it has morphed into a mechanism of misogyny and makes sex a taboo. 

Purity culture has infected all Christian conversations around romantic and sexual relationships. When sex becomes this untouchable thing, young people repress their emotions and cannot communicate in a healthy, normalized way. Things like GFU’s Community Lifestyle Statement uphold these toxic standards.

As this lawsuit points out, neglecting the necessary sexual and relational education for students is a dangerous game. Although GFU does provide an annual online course about sexual assault and displays supportive flyers around campus, these measures are simply insurance to protect themselves from legal liability and are not the same as a comprehensive sex ed course; students will think about and/or have sex regardless of any institutional standard. 

In reality, GFU needs to make conscious and intentional efforts to encourage positive conversations about sex and healthy relationships to prevent potential instances of abuse between students. More importantly, when abuse occurs, GFU needs to take the necessary steps to empower survivors to come forward without fear of retaliation. To ignore this need is to put the women on GFU’s campus at risk.