Morgan State University Investigated For Handling Of Sexual Assault
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The list of colleges and universities across the nation now under investigation for how they investigate sexual abuse reports continues to grow.
Rochelle Ritchie has details on a Baltimore City school that is now on the list.
Morgan State University is now under investigation by the Department of Education, stemming from an incident in February in which a student says she was sexually assaulted off-campus.
Students at Morgan State University are stunned to learn their school is now under investigation by the Department of Education after a student says she was assaulted by a fellow student at off-campus student housing.
"I feel the school I attend should not be on that list," said student Trae Morgan.
The alleged incident, according to university officials, happened in February, but was not reported until March. The university says they then:
"Turned the investigation over to Baltimore City Police, who turned its finding over to the State's Attorney's Office who declined to prosecute."
Morgan joins the list of 66 other schools now under investigation for how they handle sexual assault reports. Johns Hopkins University is not part of the investigation, but has been scrutinized by its student body on how it handled a sexual abuse case in which a Towson University student says she was gang raped at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house.
Students rose together in protest, demanding a federal investigation.
"It's just important for the administration to articulate when things like sexual assault are happening on our campus and informing the students so we can make better decisions ourselves so we can go about our daily lives safer," said Hopkins student Shelby Quinn.
The list of schools range in prestige. From Harvard to Princeton to Frostburg State University, students say the difference of status shows it's not the schools, but the age group that is the threat.
"Being prestigious or not, it doesn't really affect whether you are exempt from that circumstance because you have the same age group of students and you're also at college or universities," said Morgan graduate Ahmed Adetola.
Morgan State University officials declare they have nothing to hide and are looking into whether all university codes and policies were followed.
The investigation into Morgan State University was opened on June 26.
Other Local News:
