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Education News
Kirsti Marohn

St. Ben’s, St. John’s expand consent education after charges

A person walking outside on campus.
A handful of students walk across the campus of St. John's University in central Minnesota. Brian Bruess, president of St. John's and St. Ben's, sent a message to students and staff, saying "sexual misconduct and gender-based violence have no place" at the schools.
Kirsti Marohn | MPR News

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Leadership at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University says it's taking steps to address sexual assault after a second student was charged with rape in less than a month. 

John Kocher, 18, of Chanhassen was charged Feb. 20 in Stearns County District Court with third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. 

Court documents say a woman alleged Kocher assaulted her in her dorm room while she was asleep the night of Dec. 6. She told police she had permitted him to stay over after he missed the last bus back to his dorm, but not to engage in sexual activity.

Kocher was charged by summons. His first court appearance is March 9. Court records do not list an attorney for him. 

Kocher is the second St. John's student accused of rape in less than a month. Brian Kimithi, 19, was charged with first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct on Jan. 29. 

The criminal complaint for the January incident alleges a woman told police she woke up at her residence in St. Joseph to find Kimithi raping her. She said she tried to push him away, but he began choking her.

A message left for Kimithi’s attorney was not immediately returned.

On Tuesday, Brian Bruess, president of St. John's and St. Ben's, sent a message to students and staff, saying "sexual misconduct and gender-based violence have no place" at the schools. 

“When reports are made, we take them seriously and respond promptly,” he wrote.

Bruess also wrote that “prevention and culture matter deeply.” He promised that over the coming weeks, the schools’ student success and campus life teams would expand programs to educate students on consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention and community responsibility.