University Student Expelled After 'Accidentally' Stabbing Ex-Boyfriend Sues School for Violating Her Civil Rights

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An expelled student at the University of Colorado is now taking the school to court, alleging that her removal from the institution was biased and that her rights were violated.

The student has remained anonymous, referred to only as "Jane Roe" in the lawsuit. The lawsuit states that a football player she was dating at the time, referred to as "John Doe", was pressured by the school's coaching staff to file a police report stating that she assaulted him after she accidentally stabbed him.

The suit alleges that Roe and Doe got into a heated argument at Doe's off-campus residence in February of 2022, where he asked her to leave and threatened to cut up her purse with a pair of scissors. Roe picked up a small paring knife in fear, and attempted to get her purse back when Doe "accidentally leaned into the knife" and was injured, The Denver Post reported.

Doe and Roe both went to the hospital in order for Doe to get medical treatment for his injury. Both agreed that the incident had been an accident.

Doe, who refused to speak to Boulder police while at the hospital, was allegedly scared into making a report by CU football coaches and staff as they warned him that Roe could later file a claim against him.

"Doe was encouraged by CU football staff to say Roe committed a crime when she attacked him with a knife and told to exclude true information about Doe's provoking actions, his violence against Roe, and the accidental nature of the actual events," the lawsuit says. "This encouragement by CU football staff was designed to protect Doe from any consequences, specifically domestic violence charges that could end his football career at CU Boulder and professionally."

A few days later, Roe was arrested for first-degree assault, felony menacing and obstruction of telephone service with a domestic violence enhancer.

"This is a story of a young, Black woman... fighting against the strength and influence of the CU Boulder football organization," the lawsuit says. "Jane Roe had no chance."