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Education Department Confirms it Will Investigate UC - Berkeley for Alleged Mishandling of Sexual Assault Claims

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The University of California (UC) - Berkeley, considered the leading public school in the nation, is under federal investigation for alleged Title IX and Clery Act violations.

According to the Huffington Post, the U.S. Education Department's (ED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) confirmed the investigation in a letter to the school March 25. 31 current and former UC - Berkeley students filed the complaint in Feb. accusing the school of inadequately responding to reported instances of sexual misconduct.

"Sexual assault on college campuses is a critical issue and we will cooperate fully with the investigation," UC - Berkeley spokeswoman Janet Gilmore said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to work with campus professionals, students, and others to take further strides in addressing this important matter."

UC - Berkeley is one of dozens of schools under investigation, facing a complaint or in public controversy over the way they handle reports of sexual assault. Currently only Yale University and the University of Montana have underwent a completed investigation from the OCR.

That is bound to change since more than 20 colleges and universities are either under investigation or facing a federal complaint. CLICK HERE to see an interactive map detailing the schools across the nation and the HP's corresponding coverage of each case.

UC - Berkeley has reformed its sexual assault policy since the complaint was filed. The new policy is part of President Obama's 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The White House has created a task force aimed at curbing sexual misconduct on college campuses.

Title IX is a federal gender equity law that prohibits sexual discrimination. Since sex crimes are a form of sexual discrimination, schools are obligated to put forth as thorough an investigation as possible and adequately adjudicate any perpetrator found responsible.

Under the Clery Act, schools are required to release annual reports of all campus crimes and violations can cost a school about $35,000 per incident.

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