Education Department to Probe Penn State Allegations

The U.S. Education Department announced Wednesday that it will investigate whether Pennsylvania State University may have violated the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act in regard to allegations against a former coach who has been charged with sexually abusing several young boys over several years, including incidents on campus. Under the Clery Act, colleges must disclose the number of criminal offenses on campus that are reported each year. In addition, colleges must issue a timely warning if a reported crime represents a threat to those on campus. A statement from Education Secretary Arne Duncan said: "If these allegations of sexual abuse are true then this is a horrible tragedy for those young boys. If it turns out that some people at the school knew of the abuse and did nothing or covered it up, that makes it even worse. Schools and school officials have a legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from violence and abuse."