The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has agreed to pay up to $4.14 million to student-athletes who suffered sexual abuse and discrimination “over many years” at the hands of their former swimming coach, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. . It was announced on Wednesday.
The settlement agreement comes after the Department of Justice found that Chad Craddock, former head coach of UMBC’s swimming and diving teams, sexually harassed male student-athletes and discriminated against female student-athletes. It was established after no investigation was conducted. that.
In 2020, the Department of Justice launched its first investigation into allegations that the university failed to comply with its obligations under Title IX to respond to reports of student sexual assault. The Justice Department found that the head coach may have filmed students showering in the UMBC locker room.
“Rather than investigate this report or take steps to protect students, UMBC administrators told coaches that campus police planned to search lockers and obstruct criminal investigations.” warning,” the Justice Department said.
In 2019, a student reported experiencing “unwanted sexual contact and harassment” by a coach, but “UMBC again failed to investigate or take any other action.” During the same period, the university did not address female students’ reports of discrimination, including dating violence.
“As a result of these clear failures by the university, student-athletes have been subjected to ongoing sexual abuse, harassment, and other forms of sex discrimination at the hands of their coaches for years,” the Justice Department said.
The university has agreed to pay up to $4.14 million in financial relief to students who were the subject of abuse. The school also agreed to “significantly improve” its process for responding to complaints of sex discrimination, provide resources and personnel to its Title IX program, and policies such as sexual assault support.
The Department of Justice said it will monitor the program’s implementation and will run through the 2028-2029 school year. The Department of Justice may also provide feedback on UMBC’s policies, visit campus to interview students and employees, and request documents. was stated in the agreement.
UMBC is cooperating “fully” with the Justice Department’s investigation and “expressed its commitment to protecting the health and safety of our campus community.”
The Hill has reached out to UMBC for comment on the settlement.
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