Princeton may change sex assault investigations

Princeton University is considering creating a team of trained investigators to look into campus sexual misconduct accusations.

The recommendation is one of several from a faculty committee formed after the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights said it was looking into the handling of sexual assault cases at Princeton and 54 other colleges across the country.

The Princeton plan is to be presented to a university governing board on Sept. 29.

Other changes for the Ivy League university would include changing the standard of evidence for sexual disciplinary matters to a preponderance of evidence rather than “clear and persuasive,” and allowing accusers and the accused to be accompanied by lawyers at disciplinary hearings.

University officials say the changes would bring Princeton into compliance with federal standards.