Swarthmore, Temple Caught in Federal Probe of Campus Security
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Temple University and Swarthmore College are among more than 50 schools of higher learning identified today as being under federal investigation for their handling of sexual assault complaints (see related story).
The US Department of Education says inclusion on the list "in no way indicates" an institution has violated Title IX, prohibiting sex discrimination, but it's releasing the list of places it is investigating to "foster better public awareness" and "spur community dialogue about this very important issue."
That's something that Alison Kiss, executive director of the Clery Center for Security on Campus, says is essential.
"We need to be very open about what's happening on our college and university campuses if we want to change the culture around sexual violence, so this is a step in that direction," she said today.
Temple University, which reported seven sexual assaults in 2012, says in a statement that it is fully cooperating and looks forward to resolving the matter.
Swarthmore did not respond but has overhauled its handling of such cases after two students filed a complaint with the US Department of Education last year (see related story).
