At a forum Thursday at Kansas University, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little sought recommendations on how to improve the environment at KU to reduce sexual assaults.

She got an earful.

Rachel Schwaller, a graduate teaching assistant, said the term “nonconsensual sex” shouldn’t be used in rulings by school officials after investigations into alleged rape cases.

“When a robbery happens on campus, we don’t call it nonconsensual giving,” Schwaller said.

Katherine Gwynn, president of Students United for Reproductive and Gender Equity, said information that a woman used birth control before she was allegedly raped shouldn’t be considered by investigators.

And Aileen Dingus, a student and KU employee, said human sexuality classes should be required at KU so students have a better understanding of issues concerning sexual violence.

“We want this to be a safe place and graduate well-rounded students,” she said.

The forum was held amid criticism that KU has failed to do a good job in stemming sexual assaults.

KU is one of 76 schools nationwide under federal investigation regarding whether the schools are properly investigating sexual assault allegations.

The issue rose to new prominence recently after a KU student alleged she was raped and said her assailant was given a light punishment from the school.

More than 100 people attended the forum Thursday. In addition to Gray-Little, speakers included Provost Jeffrey Vitter, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Tammara Durham, Vice Provost for Diversity and Equity Nathan Thomas, Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access Jane McQueeny and KU Chief of Police Ralph Oliver.

Gray-Little said her administration was committed to making improvements in any policies or procedures.

“We need to create a community in which sexual assault is not tolerated,” she said.

Some have criticized the term “non-consensual sex” used by KU.

McQueeny said the term is used because “we are not adjudicating crimes.” Her office recommends sanctions against students that could include expulsion from the university. In 2013, she said her office received 12 complaints of sexual assault, and in six of those, a student was expelled.

Gray-Little agreed with McQueeny, saying, “It is not the role of the university to find that a criminal offense has taken place.”

One questioner said some victims may fear going to police because they believe police will blame them for the attack. But Chief Oliver said his officers receive hundreds of hours of training on how to handle sex crimes.

“We’ve come a pretty long way. We’ve been sensitive to these kinds of crimes for many years,” he said.

Last week, Gray-Little announced the formation of a task force to review current sexual violence policies and recommend changes. She urged those at Thursday’s meeting to send her suggestions.