Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — University of New Mexico officials told state lawmakers Thursday that the school has taken measures to streamline a once inadequate and complicated system for investigating sexual assault on campus, while improving communication among departments tasked with handling the cases.
The testimony before a Senate committee came three months after a U.S. Justice Department investigation found the school had failed in its handling of the cases and was not in compliance with Title IX.
The federal law better known for guaranteeing female athletes equal access to sports also prohibits gender discrimination at schools that receive federal funds.
Prior to the federal investigation, an internal review commissioned by the university found the school's policies and procedures for investigations had left victims feeling "lost and unserved" by campus officials, said UNM President Robert Frank.
"If you were the victim of sex assault or sexual harassment, you didn't know where to go or where to get services," he said.
His administration had already begun to take steps to make campus safer before federal authorities launched their investigation in December 2014, he said.
In recent months, the university's Office of Equal Opportunity has shortened the timeline for investigating assault and harassment claims, and hired more investigators to handle cases.
In April, Frank criticized the Justice Department report, taking issue with a claim that administrators' slow investigations into victim allegations had created a hostile environment. He also said the school's recent efforts weren't adequately represented in the report.
On Thursday, he did not criticize the investigation and instead noted that the probe had helped push the school toward creating more uniform policies for handling cases and working with victims.
University and Justice Department attorneys met in June to work on an agreement that would ensure the school remain in compliance with Title IX, said school counsel Elsa Cole. An agreement has not yet been finalized.
The U.S. Department of Education has scrutinized numerous schools nationwide for failing to comply with federal laws aimed at protecting women on campus, as the Obama administration urges colleges to improve the way they respond to allegations of sexual assault. Only two — the University of New Mexico and University of Montana — have been targeted for investigation by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division over their handling of sexual assault reports.
In New Mexico, federal authorities reviewed nearly 173 allegations of sexual harassment — including sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence. Some students described feeling traumatized as school officials investigated their complaints.
Investigators said the school dismissed allegations without properly weighing evidence, showed gender bias or insensitivity in its reviews, and took as long as eight months to investigate complaints. Federal guidelines recommend school investigations are completed in 60 days.
In one case, a victim described how an investigator with the school's Office of Equal Opportunity repeatedly called the person accused in the assault her "ex-lover" despite reporting the two had no prior relationship, federal authorities said.
Another student's case was determined to have lacked tangible evidence that her attacker tried to strangle her, despite medical records showing she had redness and bruising on her neck, according to the federal investigation.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
