As many as 23 students at Columbia University and its affiliated women’s school Barnard College have filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education claiming alleged violations of Title IX, Title II and the Clery Act.
Allegations included in the 100-page complaint included the following:
- Assault victims are discouraged from formally reporting
- Serial offenders are allowed to remain on campus
- Assault survivors have been retaliated against and discriminated in housing
- LGBTQ students face discrimination in counseling, advising, adjudication, and Greek life
- Students do not receive accommodations based on mental health disabilities
- Sanctions for perpetrators are too lenient
- Students are not reliably informed of campus violence
A student at Barnard College, Rakhi Agrawal, said she was placed on disciplinary and academic probation because she was a mental health liability, Columbia Spectator reports.
A spokesperson for Columbia University said officials are seeking ways to improve how the college deals with sexual assault allegations.