The House Education Committee is ramping up its investigation into Northwestern University’s handling of allegations of sexual misconduct on campus, with committee members voting to subpoena the university if it does not comply with requests for information.
The committee, which is chaired by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), has been conducting a probe into how colleges and universities across the country address reports of sexual violence and harassment. Northwestern has come under scrutiny in recent weeks amid reports that the university failed to properly handle allegations of sexual assault involving members of its campus community.
In a statement released by the committee, Rep. Scott expressed frustration with Northwestern’s lack of cooperation in providing documents and information related to the investigation. He said that the university’s refusal to comply with requests for information was hindering the committee’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation.
“Northwestern’s repeated stonewalling and disregard for our requests for information is unacceptable,” Rep. Scott said. “We will not hesitate to use our subpoena power to compel the university to provide the necessary documents and information so that we can thoroughly investigate the handling of sexual misconduct allegations on their campus.”
Northwestern has denied any wrongdoing in its handling of sexual misconduct allegations and has stated that it has cooperated fully with the committee’s requests for information. The university has also defended its policies and procedures for addressing reports of sexual violence, pointing to its commitment to creating a safe and inclusive campus environment for all students.
The House Education Committee’s threat to subpoena Northwestern is a clear signal that lawmakers are taking the issue of campus sexual violence seriously and are committed to holding colleges and universities accountable for their handling of such cases. As the investigation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Northwestern will respond to the committee’s demands for information and what impact this probe will have on the university’s reputation and policies moving forward.
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