BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO Miami University admits errors in policy on sexual-assault cases

The university faces a potential fine of $25,000 in each of the six cases.
OXFORD, Ohio (AP) -- Miami University has identified six cases in which it failed to notify sexual assault victims in writing of the outcome of student disciplinary proceedings against their attackers, officials said Thursday.
The errors came to light this week after a former student learned that the man who sexually attacked her last year was allowed back on campus.
The university is reviewing its disciplinary processes and plans to have independent reviews of its notification procedures and administration of the student code of conduct to ensure that all rules are followed, said Dick Nault, vice president for student affairs.
The U.S. Department of Education could fine Miami up to $25,000 for each failure to provide written notification to victims, university spokesman Richard Little said Wednesday after the first of the errors was discovered. The school will send apologies to the six victims.
What happened
In the first case, the former student learned that her attacker, Jason Landis, 25, was back on campus after she heard that he was accused of raping another woman last week. Landis, of Troy, was indicted Wednesday on a felony rape charge and was being held in the Butler County Jail.
Landis pleaded guilty in November 2003 to misdemeanor charges of sexual imposition and aggravated trespassing after entering the dorm room of the former student while she slept and fondling her. The 20-year-old woman said he was a stranger.
Under Miami's disciplinary system, victims are present at disciplinary hearings and therefore know the original punishment imposed on assailants, Little said.
But the Education Department in 1997 reviewed Miami's compliance with the federal Campus Security Act and said the university must notify the sex assault victims in writing of the final outcome of the cases after all appeals had been processed.
"Our judicial hearing officers address more than 2,000 cases a year. Their decisions are rarely appealed to our appeals board. However, in these instances we erred," Nault said, referring to the six cases the university has identified.
"We did not act on the commitments we had made in the way we should have."