UNITED ST ATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS 400 MARYLANDAVENUE, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20202-1475 REGIONXI NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROJ.!N,\ VIRGINIA W AS!-l!NGTON, DC September 12, 2016 (b)(6); (b)(7(C) Re: OCR Complaint No. 11-16-2250 Notification/Data Request Letter On June 27, 2016, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) received your complaint against George Mason University (the University). You filed the complaint on behalf ofl(b)(7)(A) l. You allege that the University failed to promptly and equitably respond to your report of sexual assault and, as a result, ou were sub·ect to a sexuall hostile environment. As a result of this com laint, OCR will (b)(7)(A) (b)(7)(A) If you disagree with the way OCR stated your allegation, please contact the OCR staff person identified below within 10 days of the date of this letter. OCR enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F .R. Part 106, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, in any program or activity receiving Federal :financialassistance from the Department. Because the University receives Federal financial assistance from the Department, OCR has jurisdiction over it pursuant to Title IX. Because OCR determined that it has jurisdiction and that the complaint was timely filed, OCR is opening the complaint for investigation. Please note that opening the complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination on the merits of the complaint. During the investigation, OCR is a neutral fact-finder, collecting and analyzing relevant evidence from the Complainant, the University, and other sources, as appropriate. OCR will ensure that its investigation is legally sufficient and fully responds to the allegation in accordance with the provisions of the Case Processing Manual, available at htt12://www.ed.gov/ocr/docs/ocrcpm.pdf. Our goal is the prompt, appropriate resolution of the complaint. Information on OCR's complaint processing procedures is available at http://www.ed.gov/ocr/complaints-how.html. Please be advised that the University must not harass, coerce, intimidate, discriminate, or otherwise retaliate against an individual because that individual asserts a right or privilege under The Dep11rt111e11t of Ed11c11tio11's missionis to promotestudent11c/1ieve111e11t and pn:pamtio11 for glol•al(Ot11p,·tilit>e11ess byfosteringeducationalcxcellet1ce amte11suri11g equalaccess. www.ed.got• Page 2 - OCR Complaint No. l l • 16·2250 a law enforced by OCR or files a complaint, testifies, or participates in an OCR proceeding. If this happens, the individual may file a retaliation complaint with OCR. Under the Freedom of Information Act, it may be necessary to release this document and related correspondence and records upon request. If OCR receives such a request, we will seek to protect personally identifiable information that could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if released, to the extent provided by law. If you have any questions, please contact Kendra Riley, the OCR attorney assigned to this complaint, at 202-453-5905 or Kendra.Riley(@,ed.gov. -> Sincerelv (b)(6); (b)(7(C) David Hensel Supervisory Attorney, Team III District of Columbia Office Office for Civil Rights UNITED STATES DEP ARTMENT O F EDUCATION OFFfCE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS 400 MARYLAND AVENUE, SW WASHl NGTON, DC 20202-1475 REGION XI NO RTH CA RO UNA SOUTHCAROLINA VIRGlNIA W ASH JNCT ON, DC September 12, 2016 Via Ema il: pres;dent @gmu.edu Ange l Cabrera University President George Mason University 4400 Unive rsity Drive Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Re: OCR Complaint No. 11-16-2250 Notification/Data Request Letter Dear Mr. Cabrera: The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) received a complaint on !(b)(7)(A) !against George Mason University (the Unive rsity) . The Comp lainant filed the complaint on behalf ofl(b)(?)(A) !(the Student). The Complainant alleges that the University failed to promptly and equitably respond her report of sexual assault and, as a result, she was subject to a sexually hostile envirorunent. As a result of this complaint , OCR will !(b)(7)(A) I I r )(7)(A) OCR will contact the University to provide the name of the Complainant. OCR enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part l 06, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, includin g sexual harassment , in any program or activity receiving Federal financia l assistance from the Department. Because the Univ ersity receives Federal financial assistance from the Department, OCR has jurisdiction over it pursuant to Title IX. Because OCR determined that it has jurisdiction and that the complaint was timely filed, OCR is opening the complaint for investigation. Please note that opening the complain t for investig ation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination on the merits of the complaint. Durin g the investigation , OCR is a neutral fact-finder, collecting and analyzing relevant evidence from the Comp lainant, the University , and other sources , as appropriate . OCR wil1 ensme that its investigation is legally sufficient and fully responds to the allegat ion in accordance with the provisions of the Case Proc essing Manual , available at http ://www .ed.gov/ocr/ docs/ocrcpm .pdf. Om goal is the prompt , appropriate resolution of the complaint. Information on OCR ' s complaint processing procedures is available at http://www .ed .gov/ocr /complaint s-how.html. 1 Tile Depnrl111 ent of Educntio11 s missio1-iis to promote st11de 11t11c/ 1ieve111e 11t nnd prepmntio11 for globalco111p elitiveness byfostering educntionalexcellenceand ensuring equal nccess. wunv.ed.gov Page 2 - OCR Complaint No. 11- I 6-2250 Attached is a request for data necessary to investigate this complaint. OCR requests that the University submit this information within 30 calendar days of the date of this letter (i.e., by October 12, 2016). We prefer that you submit information electronically, if feasible. If any item in our request is unclear, or if you experience any difficulty complying with this request, please contact us as provided below prior to the expiration of the 30-day period. Please be aware that OCR anticipates conducting an on-site investigation of the complaint. We will notify you in advance of our proposed plans to visit the University. Please be advised that the University must not harass, coerce, intimidate, discriminate, or otherwise retaliate against an individual because that individual asserts a right or privilege under a law enforced by OCR or files a complaint, testifies, or pa11icipates in an OCR proceeding. If this happens, the individual may file a retaliation complaint with OCR. Under the Freedom of Information Act, it may be necessary to release this document and related correspondence and records upon request. If OCR receives such a request, we will seek to protect personally identifiable information that could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if released, to the extent provided by Jaw. We look forward to your cooperation during the resolution of this complaint. If you have any questions, please contact Kendra Riley, the OCR attorney assigned to this complaint, at 202~4535905 or Kendra.Riley@ed.gov. Sincerelv (b)(6); (b)(7(C) David Hensel Supervisory Attorney, Team III District of Columbia Office Office for Civil Rights Page 3 -OCR Complaint No. 11-16-2250 George Mason Unive1·sity OCR Complaint No. 11-16-2250 Data Request (b)(7)(A) Page 4 OCR Complaint N0. 11-16-2250 (WHEN Page 5 OCR Complaint No. 1 146-2250 Page 6 OCR Complaint N0. 1 1-16-2250 Page 7 OCR Complaint N0. 1 1-16-2250 Page 3 OCR Complaint N0. 1 1-16?2250