UVa Had Sexually 'Hostile Environment,' Education Dept. Finds

September 21, 2015
  • Industry News
  • sexual misconduct
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After a years-long investigation of sexual assault at the University of Virginia, the U.S. Department of Education announced on Monday that the university exhibited a “hostile environment” for students as recently as 2012.

Among the department’s findings:

  • The university did not have policies compliant with the gender-equity law known as Title IX from 2005 to earlier this year.
  • From 2008 to 2012, the university did not respond promptly and equitably to many complaints that were not filed as formal complaints.
  • A hostile environment existed for students from 2008 to 2012, and the university didn’t act to eliminate it.
  • Comments made by the chair of the university’s sexual-misconduct board in a radio broadcast in 2014, in which she explained why the board had not expelled students who admitted responsibility for a sexual assault, contributed to the hostile environment.

Read more at The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/uva-ocr/104785

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