AMES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa State University is changing how it responds to reports of sexual violence following lawsuits alleging the school mishandled sexual assault complaints, according to university officials.
The university settled one case Monday with a former student for $47,500, The Des Moines Register reported . The woman, who was a student at the university in 2015, reported she was sexually assaulted by a fraternity member and accused university officials of mishandling the allegation.
The woman’s attorney, Tom Newkirk, said the settlement might have been higher if he and his client had not been satisfied that the university was taking action. His client, Taylor Niesen, also has spoken publicly about the case.
“We believe Iowa State - unlike any university probably anywhere - is truly committed to improving on its response to sexual assault,” Newkirk said.
Court records show that the university ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence to criminally charge the fraternity member. The university didn’t acknowledge wrongdoing in the settlement.
University spokeswoman Annette Hacker said the school hoped the resolution would help the woman find closure “and allow the university to continue to focus on providing a safe and supportive educational environment.”
Changes include an overhaul of the sexual misconduct policy, the start of a sexual misconduct prevention initiative, and new training for all employees, university officials said. The university didn’t make the changes specifically in response to the Niesen’s case, Hacker said.
The university also scheduled a public forum Wednesday concerning a recent “campus climate” survey. The survey found that 11 percent of respondents indicated they had experienced unwanted sexual contact or conduct while at the university.
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Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
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