"Liberty University Slapped with Record $14M Fine for Mishandling Sexual Violence Cases"

Liberty University has been hit with a $16 million penalty by the U.S. Department of Education for fostering a culture of fear that discouraged students from reporting sexual violence. The penalty, the largest of its kind, is a result of the university's failure to comply with the Clery Act, a federal law requiring universities to track crimes on their campus and warn students of danger. The university will also be required to spend $2 million on safety improvements and compliance enhancements, and will be under federal monitoring through April 2026. This comes after a report found that the university overlooked and failed to record instances of sexual violence on its campus, and failed to warn students about potential threats.