UM hires outside investigator to look into alleged sexual assault

We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops:

The University of Montana has hired an outside investigator to review allegations of a recent sexual assault on campus that reportedly involved two female students, multiple male students and the date-rape drug Rohypnol.

UM Vice President Jim Foley told the Missoulian on Wednesday that former state Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz will arrive on campus Thursday to launch the investigation. UM has asked Barz to complete her review by year’s end, Foley said.

“From the president on down through senior administrators who have been involved in this discussion in the last few days, we all understand how serious these topics and allegations are, which is the reason why the president (Royce Engstrom) has instructed us to retain Judge Barz and have it completed by the end of the year,” he said.

Foley says UM students received electronic messages last week on the dangers of alcohol, drugs and date rape, and that forums on those subjects will be held during the spring semester.

Gwen Florio