Liberty University Faces Record Fine for Sexual Assault Violations: Revealing a Culture of Silence
The Department of Education fined Liberty University, a Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia, a record-breaking $14 million for violating federal campus safety laws.
The U.S. Department of Education accused the university of fostering a “culture of silence” that discouraged reporting of crimes and mishandling sexual assault cases.
In a 108-page report, the Department of Education highlighted 12 significant issues in Liberty University’s handling of sexual misconduct cases. The university had punished multiple victims of sexual assault for violating the student honor code, which prohibits premarital sex. On top of that, the school did not discipline the perpetrators.
This skewed approach resulted in a climate where sexual assaults often went unreported, further worsening the problem.
Liberty University, a school that claims to train “Champions for Christ”, is being fined $14M for improperly handling reports of rape and sexual assault.
— KD (@kdnerak33) March 6, 2024
Victims were punished for violating the moral code, known as “The Liberty Way”, while their assailants were unpunished.
Additionally, the report revealed that Liberty discouraged staff members from issuing emergency notifications. They neglected to inform students about potentially dangerous situations such as campus bomb threats and gas leaks. The Department of Education accused the university of publicly portraying itself as one of the safest colleges in the nation. However, they have insufficient data on campus crime and statistics that official records could not substantiate.
Founded by conservative pastor and political activist Jerry Falwell Sr., Liberty is one of the nation’s leading evangelical institutions. They boast a vast campus and an endowment exceeding $2 billion.
However, the university is facing challenges to its standing. Jerry Falwell Jr., the founder’s son, resigned as president in 2020 amid a sex scandal. Subsequently, he was sued by the university the following year for $40 million in damages, citing various breaches of contract.
Liberty University ain’t ever trending for a good reason https://t.co/rEf4RRaHZV pic.twitter.com/ajRvqDNgF7
— Alex (@CatalanCapi) March 5, 2024
The Department of Education imposed the fine on Tuesday, surpassing all earlier penalties imposed by the Department of Education for similar violations. It exceeded the earlier record penalty of $4.5 million imposed on Michigan State University in 2019. This penalty was related to sexual abuse perpetrated by Lawrence G. Nassar, a former sports physician at the university clinic. Nassar was convicted of molesting hundreds of girls and women.
This fine is part of a settlement agreement reached with Liberty following a review that uncovered “ongoing violations” of the Clery Act. The Clery Act mandates that institutions taking part in federal financial aid programs must report data on campus crime and provide support to victims of sexual assault. Additionally, Liberty committed to distributing $2 million over two years to set up a compliance committee and implement campus safety enhancements.
The Department of Education announced its intention to closely watch the university’s adherence to these measures until April 2026. Further violations of the Clery Act by Liberty could endanger their eligibility for federal student aid programs.
Liberty University is not a “Christian” university, even though they claim to be.
— Ginger Giggles (@GigiInMI) March 6, 2024
A truly Christian university would protect & support victims of sexual assault, not shame them while they enable perpetrators
Glad to see the Dept of Education win thishttps://t.co/LMsXr91c5E pic.twitter.com/zo2ewwdmzU
The Department of Education emphasized that the $14 million fine underscores the gravity and persistence of Liberty’s violations. These violations are considered to have compromised campus safety for students, faculty, and staff over an extended period.
Liberty acknowledged many violations cited by the Department of Education during its seven-year review period. However, the university asserted that it had been subjected to disproportionately aggressive scrutiny compared to other institutions. The university’s statement conveyed its belief that they are receiving unjust treatment from the Department of Education.
Nevertheless, the university acknowledged the presence of many deficiencies in the past. It expressed regret for these shortcomings and emphasized its commitment to implementing necessary improvements moving forward.
The Department of Education’s review, which started in 2022, followed closely behind a lawsuit involving 22 women who sued Liberty. These women alleged they were sexually assaulted due to negligent policies and a culture that discouraged reporting of sexual misconduct.
Liberty University, a fake university worth $3.5 billion founded to spread Christofascist ideology, liked to promote itself as one of the USA's safest campuses. But they never even seriously kept track of on-campus crimes, & they also actively covered up cases of sexual assault. https://t.co/1BBiAAgedN
— Ash J (@AshAgony) March 5, 2024
The Education Department is nearing the completion of unveiling new rules on sexual misconduct. These involve redefining provisions of Title IX, it is a law enacted in 1972, that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools.
The expected changes to Title IX regulations will grant stronger protections to victims of sexual assault on college campuses. These revisions will reverse rules created under former President Trump, that allowed perpetrators of sexual misconduct greater opportunities to defend themselves.
Anyone, including students, parents, employees, and the public, can file complaints about potential violations of the Clery Act. Examples include misreporting crime statistics, failure to publish an Annual Security Report, discouraging assault reports, and neglecting to issue timely safety warnings. To file a Clery Act complaint with the Federal Student Aid (FSA), individuals can contact CleryComplaints@ed.gov, providing details of the alleged violations and supporting documentation.
For Title IX complaints, which cover sex discrimination, harassment, and violence, individuals can visit the Department’s Office for Civil Rights website to learn about the process and file a complaint.
