The federal Department of Education has begun investigating Liberty University’s handling of student reports of sexual assault. In a statement to ProPublica, the school pledged its “full cooperation” with the investigation.
Last October, ProPublica revealed how the school, which was founded by evangelist Jerry Falwell, had discouraged students who tried to report being sexually assaulted. Some students who came forward were encouraged to sign forms acknowledging they might have broken Liberty’s moral code of conduct, “The Liberty Way.” Others described being encouraged to pray instead of reporting their cases.
Federal law requires that universities receiving federal funds properly handle claims of sexual assault. Liberty students receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid. Following our story, senators urged the U.S. Department of Education to investigate.
Liberty University’s handling of sexual assaults under investigation by Department of Education https://t.co/xVRX3YxGLQ
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 29, 2022
Liberty University’s Handling Of Sexual Assaults Under Investigation By Education Dept via @ProPublica https://t.co/ufKsOYo0ZL
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) April 29, 2022