Western Washington University under review in sexual violence case

Western Washington University is under investigation for a possible violation of federal law over the handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights opened the case after receiving a student complaint regarding the university’s response to a report of sexual violence, according to a statement posted on the university’s website on Wednesday.

It does not mean that a violation has been found, only that a potential violation has been reported.

A university spokesman said he could not release details because the investigation has just begun.

Western is the third Washington university or college to be investigated in recent years under Title IX, a federal law that requires that students are not denied the ability to participate fully in educational and other opportunities due to their gender.

An investigation at Whitman College in Walla Walla began last November and a case has been open at Washington State University since January 2013.