Feds investigate 2 more Miami U. sex assault cases,

Miami University in Oxford is facing two new federal investigations into its handling of sexual violence cases.

On June 9, the U.S. Department of Education launched two new investigations of Miami’s handling of sexual assault cases. The investigations were made public this week as the Department of Education released an updated list of investigations at colleges Wednesday.

Details of the cases have not been released but both investigations stem from off-campus incidents, one from 2015 and one from 2016, said Claire Wagner, Miami director of news and communications.

“Miami University is cooperating fully in the investigation,” Wagner said via email. “Miami actively educates students and employees about their rights and options under Title IX. The university investigates and adjudicates cases fully and fairly, following its Title IX Protocols.”

The latest investigations come after a previous one was launched Nov. 3 at Miami. The Nov. 3 investigation remains open, according to the Department of Education.

The three investigations mean Miami has the most cases under federal review of any Ohio college right now. There are 18 cases being investigated at 10 Ohio colleges, according to the list.

Both Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati each have two cases currently under review. The most recent investigation at OSU was launched on Jan. 3 while the latest at UC started on Feb. 17, according to the list.

So far this year three investigations were launched at three other Ohio colleges, including the University of Akron, Denison University in Granville and Oberlin College in Oberlin.

Investigations at Wittenberg University, over complaints from 2011 and 2013, were resolved earlier this year. The agreement reached between Wittenberg and the Department of Education indicated the school failed to respond promptly and equitably to the two reports of sexual assault.

In total, there are 346 sexual violence cases under federal investigation at 243 institutions, according to the department of education. That’s up from 306 investigations at 225 schools in January, this news organization reported.

Earlier this week, a Miami University student filed a lawsuit against the school, alleging he was unfairly suspended for a sexual assault claim. In the suit, he claims that alleged sexual assault was actually consensual sex with a female student.

Miami University officials told the Journal-News they deny the student’s claims.

The student accused of sexual assault was suspended from the school for two years and banned from the campus, according to court records.

The student is seeking reinstatement of his status as a Miami student and a judge’s ruling that his due process rights were violated by the school.