Columbia University and Barnard College mishandled incidents of sexual assault and misconduct on campus, according to a complaint filed with the US Education Department Thursday.
More than 20 students have filed complaints with the department’s Office for Civil Rights, saying that their access to education has been impaired by poor responses to sexual assault and harassment.
Even after campus activism and discussions, conditions at the schools, affiliated since 1900, have not changed, said Rakhi Agrawal, one of the students who filed the complaint.
“I’ve been doing sexual-assault work here on campus for years and I wanted to make sure that something was done before I graduate,” said Agrawal, a senior at Barnard, an all-women’s college.
Violations of the federal laws can result in fines and the loss of eligibility for federal student financial aid.
Columbia’s administration has been told that a complaint has been filed, but the school hasn’t seen it, said Robert Hornsby, a spokesman.