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I3 releases report on sexual assault investigations

December 9, 2014

As tensions over George Will's planned appearance are coming to a head on campus, MSU has released a report examining how it has responded to sexual assault in recent years. 

The report was released by the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, the same office that conducts the investigations. It revealed that the Office, known as I3, had received 81 student claims of sexual misconduct in the 2013-2014 school year, out of which 21 received a formal investigation.

The first half of the report details university policies and how it investigation reports of sexual assault, while second half is devoted to statistical breakdowns of the report. 

The report revealed that since August 2011, 174 reports of sexual misconduct involving students were filed to I3. Only 47 of those cases underwent investigation, the other 127 did not undergo formal investigation due to either a claimant not being able to participate or no jurisdiction in the matter. 

Forty-one cases have been closed since August 2011, and in 23 of those cases respondents were found to be in violation of MSU's sexual harassment policy. Seven total students have been dismissed completely from the university, while four more were suspended for times ranging from two semesters to six years. 

From August 15 2013 to August 15 2014, a total of 97 sexual misconduct incidents were reported to I3. Eighty-one of these cases were reported by students. A large number of these reports came through Residential Education and Housing Services, as 31 referrals were made by Resident Assistants.

Formal investigations occurred for 21 of the student reports that were filed against other students or third parties. I3's investigations are aimed to be completed within 90 calendar days. Fifteen of these formal investigations have been closed, meaning either a violation was found or there was insufficient evidence. Eight of these investigations were ruled as violations of university sexual conduct policies, and resulted in students suspended or dismissed from the university. 

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