By Richard MacTough
Staff Writer
ESU former Vice President Isaac W. Sanders has been petitioned by Albert R. Murray Jr. under the US Supreme Court.
The Petition for Writ of Certiorari is a document a losing party files with the Supreme Court asking them to review the decision of the lower court.
Sanders was accused by six former ESU students for alleged sexual assault starting back in 2007.
It was also alleged that Sanders used scholarships, gifts and campus jobs as a means of assaulting the victims.
The original verdict had found Sanders innocent of the allegations. The case has been denied of a rehearing several times.
Robert Dillman was the president of the university during the time of the alleged assaults before retiring in 2012.
He died two years later at age 73.
It was also alleged that Dillman failed to protect the students under the law of Title IX, as well as former Vice President for special projects and assistant to the president, Victoria Sanders. (Victoria Sanders is not in any way related to Isaac Sanders.)
An internal investigation was conducted by Arthur Breese on behalf of ESU, the former director of campus diversity and campus mediation at ESU.
Murray criticized the Breese report as a “sham” investigation in order to cover up the alleged abuses of Sanders. At the time of the Breese report Sanders was still allowed on campus.
In the conclusion of the report, it was determined there was not enough evidence to prove the allegations.
The Supreme Court agrees to hear from one hundred to one hundred and fifty cases a year.
Over 7,000 cases are proposed each year. The case is waiting to be heard at this time. Sanders was fired for the allegations in 2008.
A report under the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education of the students’ sexual misconduct allegations noted what Murray believes there was substantial evidence in the investigation.
Three accusers of Sanders were not granted testimony in the case because the court ruled it as unfair prejudice.
The Third Circuit Court also declined to rule whether the PASSHE report was considered a public record in the case.
Harry Coleman represented Sanders in the original investigation. “My client has been vindicated and proven innocent. We won that case.
I have represented Isaac Sanders since day one and will continue to do so,” said Coleman.
This was not the first time Sanders was accused of alleged sexual harassment.
He was accused by a former student during his time working at Stillman College of Alabama in 1999.
Murray will continue working on the case whether or not it passes through the Supreme Court, he said.
“Whether this is granted or not the plaintiffs will continue to pursue the case,” said Murray.
A decision is expected to be made by the Supreme Court in the next couple of weeks.
Email Richard at:
rmactough@live.esu.edu
