DeVos Scraps Campus Sexual Assault Policies

(from The Washington Post) In a move that many education institutions are watching closely, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Friday scrapped guidance issued by the Obama Administration in 2011 to better protect victims of sexual assault and misconduct on college campuses. In its place is an interim rule letting schools decide whether to continue to use a lesser "preponderance of the evidence standard" in addressing alleged incidents of rape and other assaults. Women's and victims' rights groups denounced the action, saying it will harm students who are the victims of sexual assault, which is widely believed to be under-reported as it is, and will allow colleges to give an unfair advantage to accused perpetrators.

The guidance could also affect federal civil rights investigations at many colleges and universities. According to the Department of Education, more than 250 schools face inquiries related to their handling of sexual violence complaints. 

More at The Washington Post.

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