‘Liberty disagrees with this unfair treatment’: Evangelical Christian university founded by Jerry Falwell slapped with record $14 million fine by feds over campus safety lapses

A sign at the entrance to Liberty University

FILE — A sign marks the entrance to Liberty University, March 24, 2020, in Lynchburg, Va. Liberty University has agreed to pay an unprecedented $14 million fine after the Christian school failed to disclose information about crimes that occurred on its Lynchburg campus, including those involving sexual assaults, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

The U.S. Department of Education imposed a record $14 million fine on Liberty University over rampant violations of federal law related to campus safety, authorities announced on Tuesday. The investigation into the university was prompted by a 2021 lawsuit alleging repeat mishandling of sexual assault complaints.

Federal officials issued the fine against the Virginia-based evangelical Christian institution for failure to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The law passed in 1990, mandates certain crime reporting requirements for schools that receive federal student aid funds.

The $14 million fine was assessed against Liberty as part of a settlement agreement over “material and ongoing violations” violations of their obligations under the Clery Act, including “its published crime statistics and treatment of sexual assault survivors,” the Department of Education said in a press release.

“This is the largest fine ever imposed for violating the Clery Act,” the agency said.

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