Miami U’s handling of sexual assault faces federal review

Kate Van Fossen counts signatures as she and other members of Women Against Violence and Sexual Assault try to get signatures on an umbrella to raise awareness for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) during RAINN Day 2012 Thursday, Sept. 27, on the Miami University campus in Oxford. RAINN Day is RAINN’s annual campaign to raise awareness and educate students against sexual violence on college campuses. Staff photo by Nick Graham Purple - Robin Lavigna Red - Becca Pachlhofer Teal - Megan Kincaid Pink - Kate Van Fossen Black Miami shirt signing - Freshman Kelsey Martiniez Pink boots signing - Senior Molly Kenney

Kate Van Fossen counts signatures as she and other members of Women Against Violence and Sexual Assault try to get signatures on an umbrella to raise awareness for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) during RAINN Day 2012 Thursday, Sept. 27, on the Miami University campus in Oxford. RAINN Day is RAINN’s annual campaign to raise awareness and educate students against sexual violence on college campuses. Staff photo by Nick Graham Purple - Robin Lavigna Red - Becca Pachlhofer Teal - Megan Kincaid Pink - Kate Van Fossen Black Miami shirt signing - Freshman Kelsey Martiniez Pink boots signing - Senior Molly Kenney
News
By and Katie Wedell
Jan 30, 2017
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Miami University has joined a ballooning list of universities in Ohio and across the nation facing U.S. Department of Education investigations into the schools’ handling of sexual assault allegations.

The DOE received a complaint on Aug. 1, 2016, that Miami didn’t properly respond to reports of sexual violence, and as a result students “were subjected to a sexually hostile environment,” according to a letter notifying Miami it was launching an investigation in November 2016.

Investigations remain open at Wittenberg University as well over complaints from 2011 and 2013. The school in 2015 questioned why the cases were taking so long.

RELATED: Wittenberg among Ohio colleges with open complaints for handling of sexual assaults

This brings the number of Title IX probes over the handling of sexual assault allegations to 15 at 11 schools in Ohio. Nationally, the number has climbed to 306 investigations at 225 schools.

RELATED: Campus cases rarely lead to sexual assault convictions

The I-Team last year printed an in-depth investigation of sexual assaults on college campuses, and obstacles to them leading to serious criminal charges.

Here are some of our findings:

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Katie Wedell