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As Sam Book was being sworn in as UF Student Government supervisor of elections, he was also under investigation for sexually assaulting a fellow student.
According to a narrative provided to the Alachua County Court as part of a petition for an injunction for protection against Book, he was found responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code on four counts of sexual assault and providing alcohol to a minor on Sept. 3.
He then stepped down from his position on Sept. 25 before withdrawing from the university on Oct. 23.
Outside of the narrative, no one from the university could confirm the investigation or a verdict due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects the privacy of students’ educational records.
Janine Sikes, a spokeswoman for UF, confirmed Book’s withdrawal from the university in an email Oct. 29, but Sikes could not disclose if Book was found responsible and subsequently suspended.
Under FERPA, the Dean of Students Office also couldn’t comment on Books’ case.
During the ongoing investigation, which began in Spring, Book, then a 19-year-old political science sophomore, was approved as UF supervisor of elections on Aug. 25 by Student Government. He resigned from his position Sept. 25, citing family issues in an email interview Sept. 28. Erica Baker was appointed as the new UF supervisor of elections.
Book was previously appointed to the Judiciary Committee as an assistant supervisor of elections on Aug. 26, 2014.
SG does not look at pending investigations involving students who are applying for SG positions, said James Tyger, the associate director for SG advising and operations. Tyger declined to comment why SG does not look into pending investigations.
"We will verify that they are free of conduct probation," he said.
Tyger refused to answer any more questions, including why SG does not look at ongoing investigations, whether he knew there was an ongoing investigation with Book and whether UF Student Senate would have been informed of the investigation.
Book and his attorney, Steve Rosso, declined to comment.
A UF student submitted a Title IX incident report form with the UF Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution office after attending an Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity function in April, according to Alachua County court records. Book was a member of the fraternity at the time.
Alpha Epsilon Pi President Mike Greenberg declined to comment on the incident or Book’s standing with the fraternity.
In the narrative, the student describes preparing a mixed drink with six ounces of pineapple-mango vodka, four ounces of water and 10 ounces of mango juice in a water bottle. At some point, the student accepted a beer from Book, but did not drink it. The student only ate and drank coffee, water and the previously mixed drink.
The student recalls Book placing ice in the mixed drink, but not having any other contact with the bottle. About 1:30 p.m., the student left, drank a bottle of water and returned. That is the last thing, according to the narrative, the student remembers until much later in the evening.
When the student "came to," according to the narrative, it was during preparation to get ready for the function. Book later confirmed there was a sexual act in a text message exchange provided with the narrative.
After experiencing pain a couple of days after the function, the student visited the UF infirmary, where doctors confirmed the student had been sexually assaulted. The student was given pain medication and sent to a University Police victim advocate. Soon after, the student submitted the incident report form.
After a lengthy university investigation and a panel hearing on Sept. 3, Book was found responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code, according to the narrative. The recommended sanction includes suspension from UF until the completion of the 2020 academic school year, a campus-based order of "no contact" and a written essay, according to the narrative.
Book declined to participate in the hearing process, according to the narrative, while the student and witnesses were questioned by his lawyer. The student gave a statement during the hearing, describing depression, emotional and physical distress and a missed Summer semester because of trauma and the need for healing.
"As far as I am concerned, I know what you did, you know what you did and by refusing to give a statement or answer any questions, it causes further pain to me and disrespects everyone in the room," the student said in the final paragraph. "Your silence speaks volumes."
A judge ruled that because criminal charges had not been filed, the student could not receive an injunction.
