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Students at the University of Maryland Baltimore County protested Monday after a federal lawsuit alleged officials discouraged rape reporting, dismissed cases and destroyed evidence

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STUDENT: And actively work to create a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment for survivors.

TAYA GRAHAM: They made demands, and they marched.

Students at the University of Maryland Baltimore County gathered to call attention to a system they say downplays sexual assault.

ERIN SCHOENEMAN: On December 18, 2010, I was personally sexually assaulted by two students at the University of Maryland College Park. I never reported that crime. I knew that if I tried that it would be retraumatizing in every step of the way.

TAYA GRAHAM: And inadequately trained students to understand consent.

HALEY OWENS: It goes in spirit of protecting and protection of those who commit these crimes. And so you know, the hot topic right now seems to be athletes. I’m not saying that all athletes are perpetrators, or playing a part in sexual assault. However, I know that perhaps a large amount of, perhaps, maybe- I can only theorize that perhaps a large amount of what contributes to the insufficient ruling on these cases is the fact that the school is protecting the students who perhaps bring in money.

TAYA GRAHAM: Or hold them accountable when they violate the laws.

The protest was prompted by a recently filed federal lawsuit which alleges a pattern of downplaying sexual assault cases by both the university and the county police. One student was raped in a dormitory bathroom and woke up bleeding. And the university police chief convinced her not to bring her allegations to county law enforcement. Her case was eventually dismissed by the university. The lawsuit also cites allegations of a student who was drugged and raped by members of the UMBC baseball team. The suit alleges, despite evidence of rape, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger declined to charge. It also alleges he tried to discourage the victims from coming forward by sending detectives to her home and threatening her with arrest. It’s a culture of silencing survivors that one of the organizers says she has experienced firsthand.

ERIN SCHOENEMAN: So I never told anyone in any official capacity. I almost never even told the friends of those two people, because I was worried that they wouldn’t believe me, and would target me for harassment for trying to smear their character.

TAYA GRAHAM: Which is why students prioritized a list of demands, including firing the UMBC Police Chief Paul Dillon.

SPEAKER: We demand Paul Dillon, UMBC chief of police, be immediately removed from his position in the university.

TAYA GRAHAM: And the suspension of other officials, pending an investigation.

SPEAKER: For returning massive and preventable delays in investigations we demand Erick Kim, Title IX investigator, be immediately suspended pending investigation from his position in the university.

TAYA GRAHAM: We asked the administration for comment, and they sent us this written statement.

“We’re proud of our students for speaking truth to power. While the university has taken many initiatives that go beyond what is legally required to respond to and support students in relation to sexual misconduct, it is clear that there is more work we need to do.”.

But the students vowed to press on; to press on for real change in a system they say must start to take them seriously.

SPEAKER: It disgusts me. It outrages me. And. I hope that something will come of it and something will change, because something must change.

This is Taya Graham and Stephen Janis, reporting for The Real News Network in Baltimore City, Maryland.

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Senior Investigative Reporter & Capitol Hill Correspondent

Taya Graham is an award-winning investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and Capitol Hill Correspondent whose work bridges rigorous reporting with deep community impact. As the host of The Police Accountability Report at The Real News Network, she has become a trusted voice for transparency in policing and governance, using a mix of field reporting, data analysis, and citizen storytelling to expose systemic injustices. The show has garnered more than 50 million views across platforms, drawing a national audience to issues of accountability and reform.

Her work spans platforms and audiences, from producing Truth and Reconciliation, the acclaimed WYPR podcast exploring race and justice, to co-directing the award-winning documentaries The Friendliest Town and Tax Broke. Her five-year investigation into Baltimore’s tax incentive system (TIFs and PILOTs) revealed how corporate subsidies perpetuate inequality, sparking legislative action and community advocacy.

In addition to her reporting, Taya played a key role in shaping The Real News Network’s internal policies and labor framework, including helping draft the language around the organization’s AI policy in its collective bargaining agreement. Her work ensured that innovation and worker protections coexist, setting a model for how newsrooms can adopt technology responsibly.

Taya’s career began at The Afro-American Newspaper and Historic Black University Morgan State Radio, where she honed her craft in public service storytelling. She continues to lead with the belief that journalism should not only inform but empower—meeting new audiences where they are and inspiring them to engage in the democratic process.

Senior Investigative Reporter & Capitol Hill Correspondent
Stephen Janis is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, and documentary filmmaker whose work has shaped accountability journalism in Baltimore and beyond. As a Capitol Hill Correspondent and senior reporter at The Real News Network, he continues to uncover the systems behind inequality, corruption, and power while turning complex investigations into stories that inspire reform and public engagement.

His first feature documentary, The Friendliest Town, was distributed by Gravitas Ventures and received an Award of Distinction from The Impact Doc Film Festival and a Humanitarian Award from The Indie Film Fest. He co-created and co-hosts The Police Accountability Report, which has reached more than fifty million viewers on YouTube and helped spark national conversations on policing and transparency. His work has also appeared on Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix), Dead of Night (Investigation Discovery), Relentless (NBC), and Sins of the City (TV One).

Stephen has co-authored several books on policing, corruption, and the roots of violence, including Why Do We Kill: The Pathology of Murder in Baltimore and You Can’t Stop Murder: Truths About Policing in Baltimore and Beyond. He also co-hosts the true crime podcast Land of the Unsolved, which investigates cold cases through a lens of justice and accountability.

Before joining The Real News Network, Stephen worked as an investigative producer for WBFF Fox 45, where his reporting earned three Capital Emmys. Known for embracing technology as a tool for social awareness, he uses data analysis, digital production, and emerging storytelling platforms to connect investigative journalism with younger audiences while maintaining its integrity and depth.

Stephen’s work is grounded in clarity, empathy, and a belief that journalism should not only expose the truth but empower people to act on it.