Marquette University officials working with Office of Civil Rights to investigate allegations of sexual harassment
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Marquette University is investigating allegations of sexual harassment.
A Marquette University spokesman tells FOX6 News it involves two former students (one male, and one female), and as soon as it was reported to university officials, they contacted Milwaukee police.
The MU spokesman says the university is cooperating with the Office of Civil Rights, which handles dozens of similar cases at universities across the country every year.
The spokesman says this case does constitute a violation of Title IX (which states that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance), but it does not involve Marquette University athletics.
Title IX complaints related to sexual harassment and sexual violence have been filed by students on other campuses in the past.
Below is the full statement issued to FOX6 News by Marquette University's Director of University Communications:
"Marquette University is working with the Office for Civil Rights regarding concerns raised by a former female student who reported she was harassed by a former male student.
As is our standard protocol with any harassment report, the university immediately contacted the Milwaukee Police Department. Intervening in relationships between students is one of the most sensitive issues a university can face. Our guiding principle is to always do everything we possibly can to keep our students safe.
We are fully cooperating with the OCR, which has reviewed more than 300 educational institutions for harassment allegations across the country over the past two years.
Above and beyond this, Marquette University has worked extensively to educate our students and the entire campus community about the risks and harm that acts of harassment can have on campus. This includes mandatory training of our undergraduate students as well as faculty, staff and student employees. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff."
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