A Louisiana State Senate committee called for nine LSU employees and Board of Supervisors members, along with one Taylor Porter attorney associated with a previous LSU investigation, to testify at a hearing Thursday regarding the Universityâs mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. However, the University confirmed Wednesday that no LSU officials will testify.
This will be the Louisiana Senate Select Committee on Women and Childrenâs third hearing on this issue, following two previous meetings where multiple prominent members of the LSU community provided accounts of how the University has historically mishandled sexual misconduct cases.
The Universityâs decision to not provide testimony at the April 8 hearing comes immediately after Speaker Pro Tempore Tanner Magee said that legislators will require LSU to properly address the problems of handling sexual assault cases if the University wishes to continue receiving funds from the state.
USA Today released a report on Nov. 16 condemning LSUâs mishandling of sexual assault cases, including some against the Universityâs athletes. The report detailed experiences of several female students and highlighted that in many of the cases, upper-level administration had knowledge of the abuse and denied reporting it â violating Title IX laws.
The University commissioned independent law firm Husch Blackwell to review the handling of sexual assault cases at LSU in a comprehensive investigation after the USA Today report surfaced. The review, which will include extensive interviews with staff and students to evaluate every aspect of the sexual assault reporting process, is set to conclude in February.