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Feds announce stricter reporting guidelines for campus sex assaults

President Barack Obama signs a presidential memorandum creating a task force to protect students from sexual assault in January.
(Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA)
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The U.S. government announced new proposed regulations Thursday that will require colleges and universities for the first time to publicly disclose more types of sexual violence and harassment.

Under the new rules, schools must publish the number of incidents of dating violence, domestic violence and stalking that occur annually on and around campus. In addition, hate crimes must also include incidents based on the alleged victim’s gender or national origin.

Public colleges and universities also must offer programs to prevent sexual assault and violence.

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“These new rules strengthen schools’ capacity to provide safer college campuses for students and to keep everyone better informed,” said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in a statement.

Some schools, including all University of California campuses, have already enacted rules to comply with the proposed regulations.

Addressing sexual crimes on campuses has become a priority for the Obama administration. Nearly 50 colleges and universities nationwide, including USC and Occidental College, are under federal investigation for their handling of sexual assaults.

The proposed rules expand the reporting mandates in the Clery Act, which requires schools to make public data on forcible sex offenses and other crimes. Now, statistics on dating violence, domestic violence and stalking will be added to those reports.

For more breaking news follorw @latjasonsong

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