USC's handling of assault cases investigated

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the University of Southern California's handling of sexual assault and rape cases, officials said. The inquiry comes after more than 100 USC students filed a complaint with the federal government detailing USC's alleged mismanagement of reports of sexual assault, the Los Angeles Times said. The students said they were blamed for their victimization and were misreported and discounted. Tucker Reed, one of the co-signers of the complaint, said at a news conference she was raped by her ex-boyfriend in 2010, but USC employees did not thoroughly investigate her accusations and eventually dismissed the case. The federal investigation is the latest in a series of inquiries to ensure universities' compliance with Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, the Times said. The department has opened investigations of Title IX offenses at UC Berkeley, as well as Dartmouth, Swarthmore and Occidental colleges. USC Title IX coordinator Jody Shipper said in a written statement the university will work with the federal government. "The university remains vigilant in addressing any issues promptly and fully as they arise," she said.