A CSUN student alleged that members and leaders of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship dismissed her reports of sexual harassment, discouraged her from seeking help and mishandled a mental health crisis that led to her hospitalization.

Jazmine Valerio, a CSUN student majoring in child development with a minor in psychology, said she joined InterVarsity as a freshman after looking for a Bible study group and a community where she could learn more about her faith.

Instead, Valerio became increasingly isolated and distressed by her experiences with the group.

“I want my story to be heard because I am tired of it being pushed away,” Valerio said. “I want what I went through to be known. I am tired of hiding and keeping it a secret.”

Invited by an InterVarsity leader in the dorms, Valerio’s first night at a Bible study was also the first time she felt unsafe.

That night, Valerio mentioned that she was autistic and on the spectrum. A male student approached her and said he was autistic as well. She recalls him saying that they should get together the rest of the night.

“He kept on trying to hold my hand and he just would not leave me alone,” Valerio said. “The entire night, he was talking about how he wants to marry me, how we’re going to travel the world together, how we’re going to go to Disney together.”

As she tried to return to her dorm, Valerio said the male student followed her. She alleged that he grabbed her, pressed his groin against her, put his nose against her neck and wrapped his arms around her.

“I slapped him and I ran,” Valerio said.

She later told people in the group what had happened but felt dismissed. Some people, she said, suggested that because the male student is also autistic, he “doesn’t know any better.” Others told her the attention might be her “one chance at love.”

Sam Rizk, InterVarsity’s area ministry director, said in a written response that the organization had addressed concerns involving a male student who made female students uncomfortable.

“When we were informed that a male student was making female students feel uncomfortable,” Rizk said. “We acted quickly to confront the student, who subsequently left the group.”

He did not identify the student or say whether he was referring to the incident Valerio described.

“If a student discloses that they have been assaulted, our consistent practice is to support their decision to file a report with the police or university officials,” Rizk said.

Valerio filed a Title IX report with CSUN but felt dissatisfied with the response. She was interviewed and provided information about the incidents but had not received a substantive update about allegations involving the male student.

Valerio said after she told the Bible study leader about the alleged harassment, she was discouraged from reporting.

“Jazmine, we don’t want to ruin his life,” Valerio said the Bible study leader told her. “‘He’s autistic. He doesn’t know any better. If he goes to the police, it will ruin his life.’”

Valerio also alleged that a female Bible-study participant pressured her into unwanted sexual conduct and threatened to accuse her of transphobia if she refused. Valerio said she was afraid to report the incident because she feared being rejected by the group.

Her concerns intensified during a May 2025 retreat on Catalina Island.

Valerio said she had stopped taking antidepressants, alleging the InterVarsity members told her medication conflicted with faith and that God should heal her depression.

“I felt so depressed. I felt so anxious,” Valerio said.

The retreat centers largely around Bible study. Students are separated into groups, with about six hours of study each day, along with worship services and free time for water activities at the waterfront campsite.

At the retreat, Valerio claims to have disclosed suicidal thoughts to a leader, but says the leader dismissed her statements, framing the crisis as a spiritual challenge and urging her to apologize to others in the group.

“I told her that I had a plan, how to end my life,” Valerio said. “She said, ‘I don’t believe you. You’re a coward if you do that.’”

Police were later called and she was transported from Catalina Island for psychiatric help.

Rizk said Intervarsity treats suicidal ideation seriously and trains staff to seek professional assistance.

“When students disclose suicidal ideation, our training and practice is to encourage them to seek immediate support from a mental health professional,” Rizk said. “In situations where a student is in imminent jeopardy, we bring them to a hospital for a voluntary or involuntary psychiatric evaluation.”

Valerio said one of the Intervarsity leaders then called her while she was hospitalized and asked what she was telling her therapist, including whether she had discussed the Bible study and people in the group.

She said she informed her therapist about the call.

“Why is she asking you these questions?” Valerio recalled her doctor saying. “It’s not her business. This is a place for you to heal.”

The same leader, according to Valerio, continued contacting her after she left the hospital, calling about once a week for approximately a month and asking her to attend the meeting with the people she said had harmed her. Valerio said she was told the meeting was intended to help them become friends, reconcile and bring her back to Bible study.

Rizk states InterVarsity would not discuss a student’s mental health diagnosis with others unless “it was an emergency situation requiring immediate action.” He said that after Valerio indicated she no longer wanted contact with the group, the organization ended formal outreach.

He also said InterVarsity supports students who take prescribed medication.

“There is no shame in taking medication,” Rizk said.

Valerio continues to avoid areas of the dorm complex where Bible studies meet and has sought therapy outside the university.

“Most of the time, the Bible studies are held in the dorms and that’s where I run into them. I find out what day they are meeting and I don’t go near the dorms,” Valerio said. “I pay to live in the dorms, but I can’t go near an area because I’m scared of running into them. It’s not fair to me.”

Valerio said she hopes speaking publicly will prompt greater accountability from InterVarsity and ensure other students feel safe raising concerns. “You don’t have to believe me,” Valerio said, “but I want my story to be heard.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated from its original version to remove names pending an on-going investigation. This issue was fixed on Oct. 6, 2026.