CU said Wednesday it is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights over how it handled an alleged sexual assault involving a student.
Bronson Hilliard, the CU spokesperson, told The Denver Post the university learned of the inquiry June 21. The chancellor’s office informed students, faculty and staff in an email Wednesday. The email came five days after the Huffington Post first reported on the investigation.
“You have to be very careful in announcing an investigation,” Hilliard said. “You want to make sure you have all the details correct about what the precise focus of the investigation is.”
The memo from Chancellor Philip DiStefano didn’t provide details of the case. But communications student Sarah Gilchriese, 20, told The Denver Post she filed the complaint with the Office of Civil Rights because she was unhappy with how the university handled her case.
Gilchriese said she told the Office of Student Conduct in early March that she was sexually assaulted by another student off-campus in mid-February.
The office investigated, suspended the alleged assailant from school for eight months, fined him $75 and assigned him to write a paper on the incident.
The alleged assailant hasn’t been charged with a crime.
The Associated Press does not identify the victims of sexual crimes, but The Post reports Gilchriese chose to be identified.
DiStefano said he has ordered an external review of the university’s efforts to comply with Title IX regulations concerning gender-based discrimination in education settings.
Hilliard said the university has been in a rolling review to ensure compliance with Title IX since at least 2007, when it agreed to pay $2.8 million to settle claims by two female students who said they were sexually assaulted by football players and high-school recruits at a 2001 off-campus party. Under the settlement, CU also agreed to add staff to help prevent sexual harassment and misconduct.
The CU Office of Victim Assistance offers free, confidential support and counseling to all students, staff and faculty. To talk to someone you can call 303-492-8855 or visit their website here.
The Associated Press contributed this report. Contact the CU Independent at tips@cuindependent.com.
