New MSU Office To Handle Complaints About Sexual Assault, Discrimination
EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Michigan State University is creating a new office to handle complaints about sexual assault, relationship violence and discrimination.
The school announced Monday that the primary responsibility for the office will be overseeing complaints made under the university's anti-discrimination policies, including Title IX.
"While the task force has been engaged in its efforts, we continue to work with urgency to be better tomorrow than we are today," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, in a statement. "These changes reflect not only our commitment to creating a safe, respectful environment but also our desire to be among the campuses adopting best practices nationwide."
The East Lansing school also plans to review recommendations from its Sexual Assault Task Force.
"The issue of sexual assault is rightfully becoming more prominent nationally and on our campus," she said. "Moving forward, we need to distinguish between nondiscrimination investigative functions and our broader efforts associated with advancing student, faculty, staff diversity and inclusion."
The reorganization also comes as MSU administers a sexual assault climate survey to all students. That survey, coordinated with the Association of American Universities, was emailed to all students via their MSU accounts on April 6.
The U.S. Education Department said last year that Michigan State was among dozens of schools nationwide that it was investigating for the way they handle sexual abuse allegations.
TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
