Despite federal laws passed to combat sexual violence, each year, 4,000 female students report to school officials that they have been sexually assaulted. What happens after these reports are filed has sparked debate on campuses across the country, leaving parents and students concerned that universities are not the ivory tower of safety and integrity that appears on their recruitment brochures. Schools vary widely in how they meet federal requirements for how to report and respond to sexual victimization. Many Oregon colleges, including the University of Oregon, have been criticized for trying to keep campus assault reports secret, whether to protect victims of harrowing criminal investigations or to protect their own institutional reputation. And Oregon is not alone. Many schools are criticized for their reporting practices and inadequate approaches to prosecuting and expelling defendants. In a year-long study conducted by the Center for Public Integrity, results show that too often, students found responsible for alleged sexual assaults on college campuses face few or no consequences. Students reporting sexual assault often turn first to campus officials. However, because allegations are often based on one person's word against another, it is difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal proceedings. Many colleges and universities hold formal hearings in which panels of students and faculty review evidence and determine whether a student is responsible for a crime. Administrators point out that the academic justice system is different from criminal court in that collegiate proceedings enforce “codes of conduct” instead of anticipations. -laws on rape. Additionally, college hearing boards track separations...... middle of paper ...... handle the issue professionally. All but one of these complaints claimed that the adverse results of their hearings were due, in part, to the school's failure to effectively report the incident. “Schools need to train their teachers on how to handle reports of sexual violence,” Sokolow said. . “If a student asks a faculty member for help, they should have the support of a competent, caring adult. While many universities and colleges receive federal funds to combat sexual violence, administrators must be more diligent in using these funds to educate. teacher. Until then, victims of sexual assault may continue to be disappointed by their school's justice system. With a staggering number of sexual assaults reported each year, schools face increased pressure to improve criminal procedures in the face of campus crime..