WASHINGTON -- Some Catholic University students want their dean to either resign, or be fired.
A few dozen protested against Professor William Rainford on Monday. Dozens of students and alumni are furious with something he posted on social media.
Last week Rainford posted to Twitter, calling one of Kavanaugh’s accusers a “perp.”
The tweet was deleted but screenshots of it can still be found online.
Under his @NCSSSDean handle, the tweet read, “Swetnick is 55 y/o Kavanaugh is 52 y/o. Since when do senior girls hang with freshmen boys? If it happened when Kavanaugh was a senior, Swetnick was an adult drinking with & by her admission, having sex with underage boys. In another universe, he would be victim & she the perp!”
They marched on Michigan Ave twice - @CatholicUniv students & alumni are calling for the resignation/dismissal of Will Rainford, the dean at CU’s School of Social Service. This comes after Rainford tweeted referring to a Judge Kavanaugh accuser as a “perp.” @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/gDKCVx91ki
“Dean Rainford has got to go. Hey-hey. Ho-ho,” chanted student-protesters on the National Catholic University Campus in Northeast D.C.
“We really feel like our Dean betrayed us,” said a Second Year School of Social Service Grad Student, Devin Maroney.
In the School of Social Service, Maroney says they study to help people like sexual assault survivors.
“To see that the dean of our program, somebody charged with really understanding how to do the work that we’re being trained to do would openly mock a sexual assault survivor. Uh. It didn’t make sense to me,” he said.
“I’m a student under that department. Those are not my values. Those are not social work values whatsoever and I will not stand for that,” said a passionate First Year Grad Student, Ashlyn Harty.
These are just a few of the reasons why this group gathered at the heart of campus on Monday. News cameras were not allowed at the Pryzbyla Center. Student sent photos.
We’re told a few sexual assault survivors spoke out before the entire group hit the pavement in protest. They marched along Michigan Avenue NE not once but twice, making sure their signs were seen and their voices were heard.
The university released the following statement on Monday:
"Faculty, students and alumni came together today to tell their stories and to register their protests concerning Dr. Rainford. The Catholic University of America ensured a safe and secure environment for supporters to come together and make their voices heard. We encourage discussion and dialogue on campus and look forward to the review process to identify where improvements in our social work school can be made."
The tweet faced so much backlash, Rainford issued an apology asking for forgiveness. He called his tweet impulsive and thoughtless.
The next day, the university’s President John Garvey weighed in writing. While he wants Rainford to continue in his role, the dean has been suspended for the remainder of the semester.
Garvey partially wrote in his statement, “The Catholic University of American has no position on the Kavanaugh matter. But let there be no doubt that our University, and particularly our National Catholic School of Social Service, has a special concern for every victim and survivor of sexual assault.”
Another second year grad student from the School of Social Service, Anthony Hain, told WUSA 9 why he feels suspension is just not enough.
“I’m afraid, whether intended or not, that any delay to dismiss him is going to be seen as the Catholic Church and a group of largely men, who still don’t get it,” said Hain.
Students are also calling on the University to replace Rainford permanently with a female.
WUSA 9 reached-out to Catholic University about the student demands. A spokesperson emailed a statement that partly reads:
“We encourage discussion and dialogue on campus and look forward to the review process to identify where improvements in our social work school can be made.”
