USC Responds to Scrutiny for Under Reporting Sexual Assaults
LOS ANGELES — In response to the media attention it received after announcing that it had underreported 13 sexual assault cases, USC’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) claims that the university was not trying to deceive anyone.
By voluntarily self-reporting the number of unreported assault cases, DPS hoped to establish transparency after discovering the violation, Neon Tommy reports.
The Clery Act offers exemptions on reporting sexual assaults to clergy, counselors or anyone who requests anonymity. Exemptions do not apply to staff or faculty considered to be part of campus security.
DPS didn’t recognize that the head of the Center for Women and Men, a counseling center, was listed as a member of campus security and omitted sexual assault reports, according to DPS Deputy Chief David Carlisle.
To avoid future mishaps, DPS plans to hire a full-time employee, whose job will be solely to make sure USC complies with Clery Act regulations.
Related Articles:
- USC, Occidental College: We Underreported Sexual Assaults
- How to Investigate Campus Sexual Assaults
- USC Faces Federal Investigation for Allegedly Mishandling Sex Assaults
- Title IX Sexual Violence Prevention Guidance
- How to Comply With the Dept. of Ed’s Title IX Sexual Violence Guidance
- Clery Reporting: Whose Job Is It Anyway?
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