Slotkin Commends DOE Action To Hold MSU Accountable for Sexual Assault, Calls Out Secretary DeVos for Concurrently Rolling Back Title IX Protections

Statement

Today, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced it will fine Michigan State University (MSU) a record $4.5 million for its failure to protect students from sexual abuse. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), the representative for the district that includes Michigan State University, released the following statement:

"I welcome today's announcement that the Department of Education is holding Michigan State University accountable for failing to report crimes of campus sexual assault and protect the campus community, and recognize the subsequent resignation of Michigan State University Provost June Youatt," Slotkin said. "I will continue to stand with the survivors of sexual assault at MSU and in our community."

"But I remain deeply concerned by Secretary Betsy DeVos' approach to the issue of campus sexual assault, as she is currently working to water down Title IX protections. Today, Secretary DeVos herself said, "Never again should incidents of sexual misconduct on campuses--or anywhere--be swept under the rug.' But what she fails to recognize is that under her own proposed changes to Title IX, many survivors of sexual assault -- including many of the survivors of Larry Nassar's abuse -- would be prevented from bringing Title IX claims because the assault took place off campus, or because the survivor reported the incident to a non-designated Title IX coordinator."

"Secretary DeVos is calling out MSU for systemically failing to protect students from sexual assault, while simultaneously pushing federal policies that do the very same thing - rolling back protections for survivors. It is hypocritical and, most importantly, makes our K-12 schools and campuses less safe. I urge her to absorb her own words from today's statement and re-think her proposed changes to Title IX."

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