In the Wisconsin State Journal this morning, one reads that a second Wisconsin school is under investigation for its handling of sexual assault complaints. Dan Simmons writes that
UW-Madison is now the second university in the state to be included in a growing probe of possible violations of federal law over the handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The investigation now targets 101 schools, including UW-Madison and UW-Whitewater. The initial investigation was launched last May and included 55 schools, Whitewater among them.
See, in full, UW-Madison under federal investigation for handling of sexual violence complaints @ State Journal.
Investigations of this sort can involve either how a university reports incidents of sexual assault, or how it treats those who are trying to report allegations of sexual assault.
One should be clear: federal law does not mandate – needless to say – that there will be no crimes on campus. Federal law simply requires that, following allegations of sexual assault, universities that receive federal money will process complaints thoroughly and treat those involved in complaints fairly.
One would hope for campuses without violence; these present laws simply require that institutions taking federal public money should address allegations of assault to the high standards of which America is capable.
There are thousands of four-year colleges in America; each one should be able to meet existing reporting and procedural requirements.
That’s not asking too much; it’s asking only for the fundamental fairness and thoroughness our society deserves.