Leaders of the Montana University System issued new policies Friday for handling claims of sexual assault, which has led to a federal investigation into whether the college botched rape reports made by students.
The U.S. Justice Department earlier this month opened a gender-discrimination investigation that looks into the way the University of Montana, its football team and the city of Missoula responded to sexual assault and harassment reports. The federal Education Department's civil rights division opened a similar investigation shortly thereafter.
The university has come under fire as alleged rape victims and authorities have accused officials of mishandling rape investigations over the past two years, including cases involving football players. The football coach and athletic director were fired in March, mostly without explanation, but a cloud still hangs over the program.
The Montana Board of Regents on Friday unanimously approved a new policy aimed at ensuring sex assault complaints are properly handled. The guidelines also seek to ensure compliance with the Montana Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
The board directed each state college to appoint a coordinator to oversee gender equality issues. All employees will be required to undergo training for proper reporting of sexual assaults, and university staff most likely to field such complaints will receive advanced instruction. There are policies aimed at protecting the confidentiality of alleged victims. And the guidelines call for prompt investigation and written conclusion for each case with notification to parties involved.
Key board members made it clear their analysis isn't over.
There were sweeping allegations of mishandled complaints.
Emails obtained recently by the Missoulian newspaper in western Montana show that University of Montana Vice President Jim Foley sought to punish a student who spoke publicly about how the school was handling her report of being raped.
Foley has not spoken publically about the case.
The Montana Chapter of the American Association of University Women has sent a letter to the regents asking the board to take a number of actions, including development of the protocols for handling sexual violence cases.
McLean, the board chair who also is a school teacher from Anaconda, said the board has instructed the commissioner of higher education to get more involved "with all the resources available in the office."
Source: Times-Standard; Missoulian; Associated Press
