Despite federal laws enacted to combat sexual violence, 4,000 female college students report sexual assault to school officials each year. What happens after the filing of those reports has sparked debate on campuses across the country, leaving parents and students fearful that colleges may not be the ivory towers of safety and integrity they appear on their recruiting brochures. Schools vary widely in how they meet federal recruiting requirements. how to report and respond to sexual victimization. Many Oregon universities, including the University of Oregon, have been criticized for trying to keep reports of campus assaults under wraps, both to protect victims from harrowing criminal investigations and to protect their own institutional reputation. And Oregon isn't alone. Many schools are criticized for their reporting practices and inadequate approaches to prosecuting and expelling those accused. In a year-long study conducted by the Center for Public Integrity, findings show that too often students found responsible for alleged sexual assaults on college campuses can face little or no consequences. Students who report sexual assaults often turn to campus officials first. However, because accusations are often based on one person's word against another, cases are difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal proceedings. Many colleges and universities hold formal hearings in which groups of students and faculty review evidence and determine whether a student is responsible for a crime. Administrators point out that the university justice system is different from the criminal justice system in that university proceedings enforce “codes of conduct” rather than anti-crime. -rape laws. In addition, university hearing boards follow sepa...... middle of paper ...... handle the issue professionally. All but one of the eight complainants objected that the unfavorable outcomes of their hearings were caused, in part, by the school's failure to effectively report the incident. “Schools need to train their teachers on how to deal with reports of sexual assault,” Sokolow said. . "If a student asks a faculty member for help, he or she should have the support of a competent, caring adult. With many universities and colleges receiving federal funds to combat sexual violence, administrators must be more diligent in using those funds to educate teachers. Until then, victims of sexual assault may continue to be disappointed by their school's justice system. With staggering numbers of sexual assaults reported each year, schools are facing increased pressure to improve criminal justice processes. to crime on campuses..