Texas A&M University and Blinn College have no comment about legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Senator John Cornyn requiring federally funded universities and colleges to submit a yearly certification that leaders have reviewed all sexual abuse investigations that an employee made to their Title IX coordinator.
Cornyn says he has not heard feedback from any Texas universities and colleges about the ALERT Act.
Click below for Senator Cornyn’s response to a question about the ALERT Act that was asked by WTAW News Director Bill Oliver:
Cornyn’s announcement follows Texas A&M’s actions on Title IX issues. Click HERE to be directed to the latest information from the A&M president’s office.
News release from U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s office:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (TX) joined Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) to urge Congress to pass their bipartisan legislation to hold universities that receive federal funding accountable for sexual abuse cases that threaten the safety of their students. The Accountability of Leaders in Education to Report Title IX Investigations (ALERT) Act would require university leaders to certify they have reviewed any reports of sexual abuses perpetrated by university employees. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives held a press conference today on the need to pass their bill.
“When parents send their children off to college, they expect school officials to keep them safe,” Sen. Cornyn said. “Unfortunately, we’ve heard too many allegations of sexual abuse where university leaders failed to take action. With this bill, we’re putting a spotlight on school leadership who’ve turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct and saying no more.”
Background:
Under Title IX, colleges and universities that receive federal funds are required to establish clear procedures for promptly responding to instances of sexual violence on campuses. They must also have a Title IX coordinator in place to oversee investigations, coordinate disciplinary actions, and ensure compliance with federal guidance. However, after university leaders have continually failed to take action on or even claim they were unaware of reports of sexual abuse by university employees, such as in the cases of Larry Nassar at Michigan State University and Jerry Sandusky at Pennsylvania State University, official Title IX or external investigations as currently constructed have not proven to be sufficient motivators for high-ranking university officials to report the truth.
The ALERT Act would require federally funded colleges and universities to submit an annual certification to the Secretary of Education affirming that the school’s President, or equivalent officer, and at least one other member of the Board of Trustees have reviewed all sexual abuse investigations involving an employee reported to the Title IX coordinator that year. The annual certification would also require confirmation that neither the President, or equivalent officer, or board member had interfered with or inappropriately influenced an ongoing investigation.
The bipartisan ALERT Act is supported by the American Association of University Women and the National Women’s Law Center.
