POOR CHOICE OF WORDS

Department of Education’s Civil-Rights Chief Apologizes for Rape Comments

After saying most campus rape allegations stem from both parties being drunk.

The Department of Education’s acting civil-rights chief has apologized for saying most college sexual-assault allegations are the result of drunken sex. Candice Jackson told The New York Times in an interview out Wednesday that campus rape “accusations—90 percent of them—fall into the category of ‘we were both drunk,’ ‘we broke up, and six months later I found myself under a Title IX investigation because she just decided that our last sleeping together was not quite right.” Jackson issued a statement saying she’d “poorly characterized” the experience of sexual-assault survivors. “What I said was flippant, and I am sorry. All sexual harassment and sexual assault must be taken seriously—which has always been my position and will always be the position of this department.” Jackson’s comments came a day before Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was due to meet with advocates for victims of sexual assault on campus and those facing assault allegations.