April 13, 2016

Office of the Provost

Building 10
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-2061
Dear Provost Etchemendy:
I am a 2006 graduate of Stanford Law School and am currently a tenured professor at the University of
Denver Sturm College of Law.
I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding the Stanford Campus Climate Survey, the recent
student vote in favor of administering a new survey, and the Stanford administration's response to these
events.
Both students and faculty have criticized the administration of the Campus Climate Survey, which,
among other issues, did not follow the methodology adopted by the Association of American Universities
(AAU) and used to conduct surveys at many of our peer schools. This discrepancy in methodology calls
into question a number of the survey's results. As just one example, Stanford has made much of the
finding that just 1.9% of students experienced sexual assault, but the 1.9% figure averaged together the
experiences of men, women, and gender-diverse students. Moreover, the 1.9% figure is derived from a
narrower definition of sexual assault than the definition used by most of our peer institutions.
On Monday, 90.6% of the Stanford student body voted to re-administer the Campus Climate Survey. This
is an overwhelming expression of support. Yet the administration has already stated that it will not
administer an improved survey that adopts the AAU methodology or otherwise responds to the many
concerns that critics have raised.
I have no particular opinion regarding the rate of sexual assault at Stanford in comparison to our peer
institutions. But as an alumna of Stanford and as a member of the legal academy, I believe that it is of
paramount importance to collect accurate information about sexual assault. An accurate survey is a
necessary prerequisite to creating and administering policies relating to sexual assault -- an issue that
profoundly affects the health and well-being of so many members of the Stanford community.
I hope that Stanford will reconsider its disappointing refusal to administer an improved survey. If it does
not, I have no doubt that many other alums will share my disappointment and will make their views clear
-- both verbally and by withholding whatever donation they might otherwise choose to make.
Yours very truly,

Nancy Leong

Ricketson Law Building | 2255 E. Evans Ave. | Denver, CO 80208-0630 | 303.871.6000 | www.law.du.edu