The Post's policy is not to publish the names of minors involved in crimes, either as offenders or victims. Therefore, the girls whose families have sued the university are not named in the following story, nor are their families, because publishing the families' names would expose the girls' identities and would go against The Post policy of protecting the identities of minors.

Two girls who sued Ohio University and others have 10 days to persuade the court that the man who sexually assaulted them should be included in their case.

The girls, who are cousins, were sexually assaulted during Sibs' Weekend at OU in February 1998. They filed suits in February 1999 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The girls are asking for a total of at least $75,000 in their suits, which were later combined, from each Travis McIntyre, the 18-year-old West Virginia man who assaulted them, his parents and OU.

In their suits the girls and their families allege the university failed to take the necessary steps to create a safe environment for them.

On Feb. 14, 1998, McIntyre sexually assaulted the cousins, ages 14 and 17, who were visiting the younger girl's sister, a sophomore living in Martzolff Hall. He first forced the 14-year-old to submit to sexual contact while she was alone in her sister's room with him. She left the room when her cousin knocked, and he proceeded to force the 17-year-old to submit to sexual contact as well.

The OU Police Department investigated the girls' complaints and charges were brought against McIntyre in the Athens County Court of Common Pleas. In a plea bargain April 15, McIntyre pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual imposition, fourth degree felonies. Two counts of rape against him were dropped.

In July, McIntyre received the maximum possible sentence of three years, which he is serving in the Correctional Reception Center in Orient. Additionally, he was labeled a sexually-oriented offender, which makes him subject to community notification measures. The court also ordered him to pay restitution of over $2,000 and court costs.

OU filed a petition March 2 to have the girls' lawsuit dismissed, stating that the district court has no jurisdiction over OU because it is a state entity. The court has not ruled on the motion yet.