LEHIGH, Pa. — A Lehigh University official has refuted allegations that the institution failed to properly address racial harassment incidents on campus after learning that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights will investigate the claims.
On Nov. 6, someone vandalized the Umoja House, a multicultural dormitory on campus, with eggs and graffiti that included racial slurs.
The incident prompted alumna, Susan Magaziner to file a complaint in behalf of students, stating that the university failed to report the incident as a hate crime.
However, Lehigh University Vice Provost for Student Affairs John Smeaton maintains that campus police conducted a thorough investigation of the incident and had insufficient evidence to merit criminal charges in the vandalism, The Morning Call reports.
Last week, OCR notified the university that it will move forward with its investigation. Lehigh officials pledged full cooperation during OCR’s examination.
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