After nine months of research, the Center for Public Integrity, a Knight grantee, uncovered problems in higher education’s handling of sexual assault cases. The Center surveyed scores of campus clinics and’ interviewed’students‘who filed unsuccessful criminal charges for being sexually assaulted.

According to the investigation, ‘those who do come forward can encounter mysterious disciplinary proceedings, closed-mouth school administrations, and off-the-record negotiations.” CPI is launching a series of pieces on how sexual complaint cases are handled on college campuses. It is also trying to raise awareness and draw attention to this dilemma by encouraging student journalists to report on how their school deals with sexual assault allegations.

The Center estimates as many as 15 million Americans have heard about this investigation through its many media partners. The Center provides this guide for students interested in running their own campus investigation.

–‘Marly Falcon, Knight Foundation contributing blogger