The University of Southern California is facing serious allegations over sexual misconduct. Other institutions as well like Ohio State and Michigan State universities are facing similar charges accusing members of their faculty and staff of various misconduct allegations.

In the midst of such claims, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is proposing new policies for campus sexual misconduct.

The rules, reports The New York Times, would “narrow the definition of sexual harassment, holding schools accountable only for formal complaints filed through proper authorities and for conduct said to have occurred on their campuses.” The proposed policies would reduce liability for institutions of higher education. At the same time, according to The Times, the new rules would encourage schools to provide more support for victims.

We look into the proposed revisions and discuss the implications.

We have reached out to the U.S. Department of Education, they sent us this statement: “We are in the midst of a deliberative process. Any information the New York Times claims to have is premature and speculative and therefore we have no comment.”

Guests:

Michele Landis Dauber, professor of law and sociology at Stanford University; helped revise Stanford’s policy on sexual assault and is an advocate for improving college and university policies on sexual assault

Mark Hathaway, private defense attorney in Los Angeles, who has represented students and others accused of sexual misconduct