Feds launch sexual violence investigation at UT

The federal government has launched an investigation into sexual violence at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights confirmed they launched their investigation on June 29.

UT officials said Thursday they were "in the process of collecting and preparing the information the Office of Civil Rights has requested."

In an emailed communication to faculty, staff and students, UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said the university had been notified that an individual had filed a complaint with the federal government regarding the university's response to a report of sexual violence.

"While privacy laws prevent the university from disclosing the details of the complaint, I can assure you we will cooperate fully with OCR as it investigates the complaint," his email said.

The university has come under scrutiny over the past year for its handling of sexual assault allegations against student athletes. At least six University of Tennessee football players on the roster last season have been accused of sexual assault. They include:

•Michael Williams, 21, who was indicted by a Knox County grand jury on two counts of aggravated rape and named in an additional two counts of aggravated rape as having "aided and abetted" another individual, whose name was redacted in the indictment. A Nov. 16 police report named him and A.J. Johnson as suspects in a sexual assault of a female athlete. Williams' attorney has denied the charges.

•Johnson, 23, also named as a suspect in the Nov. 16 incident that allegedly occurred during a post-game party in Johnson's off-campus apartment, according to a Knoxville police report. The alleged victim in that case was a then-19-year-old female student-athlete who has since withdrawn from the university. Johnson's attorney has denied the allegations. Johnson, a former UT star linebacker, graduated in December. The NFL subsequently revoked its invitation for Johnson to participate in the NFL Combine.

• In April Tennessee wide receiver Von Pearson was suspended indefinitely from all team activities after he was identified as a suspect in an alleged rape of a 19-year-old Tennessee student that occurred at the University Walk Apartments near the campus. No charges have been filed against Pearson and no arrests have been made in connection to the incident.

•Riyahd Jones, 20, named as a suspect in a reported sexual assault that allegedly occurred at an off-campus apartment Feb. 5, according to a Knoxville police report. Jones, a senior and Vols defensive back for the past two seasons, was part of the football team until Jan. 2. No charges have been filed, and police have declined to provide a copy of the full police report, saying that the district attorney's office could still decide to pursue charges.

•In September a football player was named in a sexual assault complaint made to university officials by a freshman woman, according to an internal university investigation and emails from university officials obtained by The Tennessean. University officials investigated the case and issued a finding that no assault occurred and the incident was instead consensual sex. The player remains in good standing on the team. The Tennessean is not naming the football player because he has not been publicly accused and no police report was filed.

•In April 2013, Marlin Lane, 23, was named as a suspect in the rape of an 18-year-old high school student in Lane's dorm room on April 9, 2013, according to a University of Tennessee police report. Lane, a running back, was suspended from the team four days later for unspecified "disciplinary reasons." The case was turned over to the Knox County district attorney, who declined to prosecute after the alleged victim said she did not want to pursue charges. Lane was reinstated to the Vols less than two months later and has since graduated.

The federal government has launched investigations into universities' handling of sexual assaults across the country. As of July 15, there are 135 cases under investigation for issues of sexual violence at 121 post-secondary institutions, according to a department spokesman. Among them are Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Reach Anita Wadhwani at 615-259-8092 or on Twitter @AnitaWadhwani.