JEFFERSON CITY • Washington University said Wednesday it "strongly opposes" a measure moving in the Missouri Legislature that would alter how public and private colleges handle claims of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

The statement from the private university in St. Louis comes a day after the Post-Dispatch reported that a dark-money group had surfaced in recent days to advocate for the proposal, which critics say would silence victims.

David L. Steward, who serves on the Washington University board of trustees, is supporting the changes to Missouri law, according to a spokesman for the Missouri Campus Due Process Coalition. He has not returned a request for comment.

David L. Steward, co-founder and chairman of Maryland Heights-based World Wide Technology Inc. ▲

Steward is also a former member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators who resigned in 2016, citing personal reasons. The billionaire founded St. Louis County-based World Wide Technology in 1990.

"Washington University strongly opposes legislation that is pending before the Missouri legislature that would effectively gut the university’s process for handling sexual assault and misconduct on our campuses," an unattributed statement from the university reads.

The proposal "would interject an alternate process that would be re-traumatizing and re-victimizing," the statement said. "This would have a chilling effect on students’ willingness to come forward with claims.

"To be clear, at Washington University we are intent on a Title IX process that is thorough and fair to all parties involved," the statement said. "The proposed state legislation is not the way to get there."

Most higher education proposals in Missouri, such as those in the state budget, affect only public colleges. But the current Missouri proposals would apply to both public and private schools, such as Washington University and St. Louis University.

During a hearing on the House legislation Tuesday night, Rep. Mark Ellebracht, D-Liberty, said students do not have constitutional due process rights when universities determine whether the student can be enrolled.

"Can you point to me in the constitution of the United States, or any law in the state of Missouri, that entitles a student to enrollment in a college?" Ellebracht asked a representative of St. Louis University.

"What we're trying to do is enshrine due process of law rights to private college disciplinary hearings," Ellebracht said. "Can you imagine a larger government overreach than that?"

Dueling proposals in the Missouri House and Senate would allow the accused and accusers to have their cases heard before the state Administrative Hearing Commission, a formal process that could open claims — and potentially false claims — up for public scrutiny.

Opponents of the legislation say that most Title IX complaints are handled informally, with students changing their schedules or dorm living situations after contacting the Title IX office.

A February report from the University of Missouri said the Office of Civil Rights and Misconduct received more than 3,000 complaints of discrimination and misconduct over the last four academic years. But during that same time, only 10 students were expelled from the school.

Anyone accused of misconduct would be allowed to sue their school for damages if their due process rights are infringed. If an allegation is not proven, the accused could also potentially sue for damages, creating a chilling effect on complaints, opponents say.

Proponents, including the Steward-backed group, say that the complaint process should be more rigorous in order to discourage false complaints. Proposed changes include guaranteeing cross-examination rights and the ability for the accused to reject a decision-maker if the accused believes the decision-maker is biased.

Title IX is a 1970's law that requires gender equity at colleges and universities receiving federal support. The Obama administration issued guidance on how universities should deal with sexual assault claims, leading to varying approaches at schools across the country.

Backers of the Missouri bills argue there should be more standardization in the process to ensure fair hearings across the board.

The Trump administration is drafting its own rules, which raise the standard of evidence in cases before Title IX officials.

Final federal rules are not expected until this summer.

Opponents of the Missouri legislation want legislators to wait before enacting their own provisions to avoid conflict.

The legislation is House Bill 573 and Senate Bill 259.