IU under investigation for violations

Attorney General Eric Holder met with officials from eight universities in the Washington D.C. area to discuss how to address sexual assault on university campuses across the nation.

The gathering was organized to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act and concluded an eight-day tour organized by the Office of Violence Against Women.

The meeting, which took place May 14, came in the wake of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights releasing a list of 55 colleges under investigation for possible sexual violence violations that includes Ivy League universities, public universities and local colleges. 

IU and Vincennes University are the only two Indiana institutions on the federal list.
Officials at the meeting exchanged ideas on the successes and shortcomings of their respective plans in confronting sexual assault on their campuses.

Catholic University of America was among the universities represented at the meeting that is also under investigation by the DOE.

While some colleges’ placement on the list was a result of students filing a Title IX complaint, Mark Land, associate vice president of public affairs and government relations, said IU’s placement on the list was not a consequence of such a complaint.

“The DOE is in the process of conducting what it calls a compliance review to take a look at how Bloomington campus handles sexual assault cases and to examine the programs and staffing we have in place to help educate students on the issue and create a safe environment,” Land said.

But in 2012, the University had the highest number of sexual assaults reported among universities in the state of Indiana.

According to the 2013 IU Annual Security report, 27 sexual assaults were reported on campus in 2012.

Vincennes University had three sexual assaults reported. Purdue University and Ball State University, Indiana’s other two major public universities, reported two and eight, respectively.

In January, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.

The White House task force aims to accentuate and remedy the prevalence of sexual assault crimes at higher education institutions nationwide.

Last month, the White House task force released its first report titled “Not Alone.”

“As the name of our new website NotAlone.gov indicates, we are here to tell sexual assault survivors that they are not alone,” the White House task force said in the report. “We’re also here to help schools live up to their obligation to protect students from sexual violence.” 

The task force recommended four initial steps for schools to undertake: identify the scope of the problem on college campuses, help prevent campus sexual assault, help schools respond effectively when a student is assaulted, increase transparency and improve enforcement. 

Since 1999, the Office of Violence Against Women has spent more than $139 million in projects addressing violence and sexual assault on campuses across the nation.
Debbie Melloan, a counselor at the University’s Sexual Assault Crisis Services, said she believes schools must also play a role in preventing sexual assault.

“We have a responsibility under Title IX to respond to and prevent sexual violence,” Melloan said. “I think we have a good network of services and resources to respond to sexual assault on campus.”

The Sexual Assault Crisis Services administers several programs throughout the year directed at raising awareness and providing information about sexual assault, Melloan said.

Additionally, it offers individual, couples and group counseling for sexual assault victims.

Sexual Assault Services also provides a free 24/7 service line for assault victims or anyone who knows assault victims.

“We’re here to address sexual assault on campus and advocate for not only women, but also men who have also been affected by this,” Melloan said. “I think we do a good job. The information and resources are available.”

After becoming aware of the Department of Education’s compliance review in mid-March, the University provided the initial pieces of information requested, Land said.

“The campus has not yet received any feedback from the DOE and probably won’t for a few months,” he said

Nevertheless, IU administration will continue to address sexual assault on campus.
“This is a vitally important area, and campus takes nothing more seriously than the safety of its students,” Land said. “Campus leaders are continually looking at ways to strengthen its processes and practices regarding sexual assault to create the safest possible environment for our students and to nourish a culture of respect toward women on our campus.”

The administration also works closely with IUPD on sexual assault prevention strategies, Land said.

Lt. Craig Munroe, the IU Police Department public information officer, said IUPD has a meeting every quarter with all the agencies that might have a sexual assault reported to them.

“It’s a collaborative effort, and we try to get a reflection on what’s happening at IU,” Munroe said. “The IU Health Center, Student Advocates Office and IU administration get together, sit down and make sure everyone knows what’s going on.”

IUPD participates in any committees or programs associated with sexual assault, Munroe said.

“This is a cultural problem,” he said.

Land said law enforcement offices outside of campus are a big help to IUPD in fixing that problem.

“IUPD has a very close relationship with the Bloomington Police Department as well as the Monroe County prosecutor’s office to ensure that sexual assault complaints in and around campus are investigated promptly and thoroughly and, when appropriate, prosecuted vigorously,” Land said.

IU appreciates the focus being placed on this issue by President Obama’s administration, Land said.

“We are hopeful that this increased emphasis on sexual assault on college campus will help all universities address this issue more effectively,” he said.