From a long opinion today by Judge Waverly Crenshaw (M.D. Tenn.) in Poe v. Lowe:
Poe, a male Vanderbilt student, made social media posts about another male Vanderbilt student, Roe, and his sexual behaviors with females. [Citing court filing] showing posts by Poe's Yik Yak account, including stating that "[Roe] is a rapist" and "[Roe] slipped me a roofie this fall, but I just wasn't able to definitively proove [sic] it. When I brought it up to some of the [] brothers [from Roe's fraternity] they tried to gaslight me about it" ….
Poe was not alone—a number of posts were made about Roe by other people, including other Vanderbilt students. [Citing court filing] containing Yik Yak posts by a female Vanderbilt student, L.N., including stating that she had "personal experience" with Roe and "he is a RAPIST, that is the truth and if you don't believe it after so many girls have said it, there is nothing I can do to convince you" …. Once this came to Vanderbilt's attention, Bourgoin, Vanderbilt's Director of Student Accountability, Community Standards, and Academic Integrity, opened a disciplinary case against Poe, charging him with three violations of the Student Handbook …: disorderly conduct, harassment, and impersonating a University official or any other person….
Poe's appeal was denied by Vanderbilt's Chair of the Appellate Review Board (Lowe), and Poe was suspended for a year. Poe, who had attempted suicide after hearing of his punishment, sued Vanderbilt on various theories.
