Lawmakers slam LSU response to sexual misconduct report

BATON ROUGE, La. — Female state lawmakers on Wednesday lambasted Louisiana State University’s response to a scathing report about its handling of sexual misconduct complaints, calling the university’s disciplinary decisions weak and insulting to students whose abuse allegations were mishandled.

The legislators singled out for blistering criticism LSU’s decision to briefly suspend rather than fire two employees for years of botched responses to claims of sexual harassment, domestic violence and rape.

“I’m kind of just dumbfounded. I’m sad. I’m disgusted. I’m so disappointed in LSU, and I continue to be disappointed with the response that we’re getting right now,” said Rep. Paula Davis, a Baton Rouge Republican. “It’s just not enough.”

Rep. Barbara Freiberg, also a Baton Rouge Republican, called the discipline a “slap on the hand.”

Franklinton Republican Sen. Beth Mizell, the Senate’s second-ranking leader, added: “I don’t think this is satisfactory at any level. The system is finding a way to protect the status quo.”

The hearing involved the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children, but it drew female lawmakers from both the House and Senate and a few male lawmakers, too.

The meeting followed last week’s release of a report from the law firm Husch Blackwell, hired by LSU to review its handling of sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination complaints under federal Title IX laws. The lengthy report details inappropriate responses and too few resources dedicated to the task.

Kansas ousted football coach Les Miles after the report detailed allegations of inappropriate behavior with students during his tenure at LSU. But no one whose conduct was criticized by Husch Blackwell has been fired.