NASHVILLE - Students and former students at Vanderbilt University and Amherst College have filed federal complaints alleging the schools responded inadequately to their reports of sexual assaults, harassment and stalking.
Vanderbilt senior Sarah O'Brien said Friday that she and five other women filed a complaint with the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. The filing was coordinated with a second complaint against Amherst, and similar complaints are being prepared at other schools.
O'Brien say survivors hope to change a culture that tries to silence them.
Amherst President Biddy Martin said in a statement that the school is working to confront these issues and hold itself to the highest possible standard. A statement from Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Beth Fortune said it is continuously working to improve its procedures.