Convicted rapist sues University of Scranton for expelling him
May 22—A New York man who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old girl filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Scranton, alleging it violated its policy when it expelled him after he was charged with the crime.
Shuli Li, 24, acknowledges he committed the crime, but contends it should not have affected his status at the school because the offense occurred off campus and involved a minor female who was not a student.
Li was charged with statutory sexual assault after he was caught having sex with the girl in a car at the Valley Stream Mobile Village in Rice Twp. on May 11, 2019. He was later charged with possession of child pornography after police found images of the girl on his phone.
Li pleaded guilty in Luzerne County Court to one count each of statutory sexual assault and corruption of a minor and 199 counts of possessing child pornography. He was sentenced in January 2020, to one to three years in prison and is now incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution in Benner Twp.
According to the lawsuit, the university suspended Li on May 13, 2019 — just days before he was to graduate with a bachelor's degree in business marketing. He was later expelled, depriving him of the degree for which he invested about $150,000.
The university took the action based on its sexual harassment and misconduct policy. Once an allegation is made, the university will assess "the risk of harm to individuals or to the campus community and will take necessary steps to address those risks," the suit says.
The policy covers conduct that occurs on university property, school-sponsored events and off-campus programs, including internships, student teaching and athletic events, the suit says. It applies to off-campus conduct if "it has the effect of interfering or limiting one's ability to participate in or benefit from a work-related or educational program or activity."
The suit says Li raised "jurisdictional" challenges to the school's action, but it declined to consider his arguments. He also contends the policy does not apply because he is no longer a student, therefore "no adverse effects or hostile environment would exist."
The suit seeks damages for breach of contract and violations of a federal law that protects against gender discrimination. It alleges the university's sexual misconduct policy disproportionately affects male students and is "set up to encourage and facilitate false reports of sexual misconduct and/or other grievances without any recourse for the falsely accused."
"Defendants also failed and/or refused to follow its existing policies and procedures when investigating the charges ... depriving him of his degree without any meaningful right to confront his accuser," the suit says.
Stan Zygmunt, spokesman for the university, said it does not comment on pending litigation.
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