Civil Rights Complaint Alleges Occidential College Failed to Protect Students From Sexual Assault

A group of six students and alumnae of Occidental College in Los Angeles have filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education claiming that the educational institution did not do enough to protect them from sexual assault. The complaint states that over the past several years 37 women have been “raped, sexually assaulted, battered, harassed, or retaliated against for speaking out against sexual violence.” The complaint alleges that the college discouraged women from reporting or proceeding with the prosecution of sexual assault cases.

Jim Tranquada, a university spokesperson, stated, “We have updated our sexual misconduct policy and procedure; trained more faculty, staff and students in how to respond effectively to reports of sexual assault; and initiated a number of programs to better educate the campus community and foster a culture that rejects sexual violence. We readily admit that Oxy has more work to do, and are vigilantly ensuring our continual progress.”

The university has hired two former prosecutors to conduct a review of the college’s procedures concerning sexual assault.

Occidental College enrolls about 2,100 undergraduate students. Women make up 57 percent of the student body.