Jacques: Title IX keeps failing students

The ongoing trials of Michigan State University are shedding light not just on the abuses of former Dr. Larry Nassar, but also on the peril of placing campuses in charge of sexual assault investigations. But in the meantime, state legislators can also offer some guidelines that could encourage universities to report the crimes of sexual assault and rape to the police rather than handling those investigations themselves. Cox, who has a background in law enforcement and criminal justice, has worked to help victims of sexual assault more easily track rape kits, and she’s also participated the last few years with first lady Sue Snyder’s summits to raise awareness of campus assaults. MSU’s policy is clear: “Employees are required to report allegations of sexual assault involving members of the University community to the MSU Police Department and the Office for Institutional Equity. But it will take Congress to update Title IX, which courts have interpreted over the years to mean that it’s on schools to investigate sexual assault complaints, rather than make sure those complaints are handled fairly by a better suited agency, such as local police.