Yale University has asked federal education officials to lower a fine imposed on the school for under-reporting sex offenses.
The federal Clery Act spells out how colleges and universities nationwide are expected to compile and report crime data – including sex crimes on campus. The U.S. Department of Education began reviewing Yale’s compliance with Clery back in 2004, after a Yale Alumni Magazine article raised questions about the accuracy and completeness of the school’s reports.
The DOE found that Yale failed to report 4 forcible sex offenses between 2001 and 2002; and also “failed to properly define its campus” as including parts of Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Yale faces the maximum fine - $165,000. In a statement university spokesman Tom Conroy says Yale fully supports the Clery Act, but believes the maximum fine is not warranted because the reporting problems took place years ago and there are no current issues with reporting that need to be addressed.
In the past year, Yale has also introduced new workshops for students aimed at reducing sexual misconduct and improving the sexual climate on campus.
For WNPR, I’m Diane Orson.
