By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Mike and Cindy Rondini of Steiner Ranch never gave up on their daughter Megan’s long, drawn-out rape case, and two years after their daughter killed herself, they settled with the University of Alabama for sexual assault damages and improperly handling their daughter’s case.

“Our hope has always been to improve conditions for other sexual assault victims. We can’t comment specifically on the settlement with UA, but we believe it’s consistent with this goal,” said Mike.

“We’re continuing to pursue the alleged assailant civilly in federal court in Alabama,” he added.

Megan grew up in Steiner Ranch and graduated from Vandegrift. In July 2015, Megan, then 20, was entering her junior year as a pre-med honors student at UA. She was majoring in biology with a 3.812 cumulative GPA. She hung herself in February 2016 without closure to her long, drawn-out rape case involving an influential Tuscaloosa, Ala. man.

On July 2, 2017 the Rondini’s filed a lawsuit on behalf of their daughter Megan’s estate against the University of Alabama, the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s department and T.J. Bunn Jr. (FPN links to previous coverage at the end of article.)

The lawsuit stated: “This is an action for damages that arises from the sexual assault of Megan Rondini by Terry Jackson Bunn, Jr. and from the subsequent faulty practices and mishandling of investigation and treatment by the defendants, ultimately leading to the suicidal death of Megan Elizabeth Rondini.” 

On Feb. 27, the Rondinis and the University of Alabama issued a joint statement saying that the claims asserted by the Rondinis against the university have been resolved. As part of that resolution, the Rondinis dismissed their claims against the UA.

The statement said that in the course of litigation, the university and the Rondinis set aside their past disputes and worked toward the future. The university has committed to certain actions and the Rondinis have agreed to absolve UA and its employees of wrongdoing and to dismiss the lawsuit.

University Alabama and the Rondinis share the desire to eliminate sexual misconduct and, in the event it does occur, provide support to the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable.

UA remains committed to these endeavors, and the university and the Rondinis worked collaboratively to develop additional ways UA can expand the reach of its efforts. In particular, in Megan Rondini’s honor, the university is undertaking the following:

• The university has committed $250,000 to the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center, Inc. to provide facilities and services to aid and support victims of sexual assault. Additionally, UA representatives are taking a key role in supporting the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center and building strong partnerships that will ensure its success.

• The university currently has several programs to address issues associated with sexual misconduct. UA regularly assesses the programs and efforts in place to eliminate sexual misconduct from the campus community and to provide assistance to those who may be affected by alleged sexual misconduct. In furtherance of that, UA is committing an additional $150,000 by the end of 2019 to continue its efforts to add personnel to its team of employees dedicated to addressing issues associated with sexual misconduct.

• UA is continually exploring new strategies and innovative technology that will enhance reporting systems and provide important data to the university so that it can better understand campus trends related to sexual misconduct.

• Over the next five years, the university will contribute a total of $50,000 in a scholarship named after Megan Rondini. The scholarship will give preference to students focusing their studies at UA on biological sciences, veterinary studies, and/or STEM/MBA and a desire to promote gender equity in those fields.

• The university will posthumously award Megan Rondini a magna cum laude B.S. degree with an accompanying certificate from the University’s Honors College dated May 2018.

The UA’s statement goes on to say that the University of Alabama reaffirms its condemnation of sexual misconduct and its commitment to continued support of members of the campus community who may be affected by it. The university will continue to cooperate and work with local law enforcement to develop and implement law enforcement processes to investigate and prosecute crimes involving sexual assault.

The Rondinis are pleased that they can now redirect their focus on the future through this collaboration with the university to further combat sexual misconduct and support entities such as the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center in providing state-of-the-art services to students and the community.

Further, the Rondinis encourage anyone in the campus community who has been affected by sexual misconduct to take advantage of any of the resources that are available, including the university’s Title IX Office, UAct Program, University of Alabama Police Department, counseling and gender resources, and the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center, when it opens later this year, to assist them in addressing the significant issues that face sexual assault survivors.

Links to previous reports in Four Points News:

How accusing a powerful man of rape drove a college student to suicide – Part 1

 

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