Last week, Iowa State University was found to be under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for its handling of sexual assault cases. Iowa State is one of more than 90 colleges under investigation.

President Steven Leath received a letter Oct. 15, 2014 from the Office for Civil Rights explaining the university was under investigation. According to the letter, the investigation is on whether University failed to “promptly and equitably respond to complaints, reports and/or incidents of sexual violence of which it had notice.”

The investigation began after an ISU student wrote a letter to the Department of Education saying she was discriminated against in her sexual assault case involving a male student. The woman’s sexual assault occurred in March 2014 and a criminal complaint was not filed in the case until the following January.

According to the criminal complaint, the woman said a man assaulted her at an on-campus apartment. After a party in which the man and the survivor were consuming alcohol, the survivor woke up to find the man sexually assaulting her.

A criminal complaint was filed Jan. 12, almost 10 months after the sexual assault, by the ISU Police Department and a student disciplinary hearing was scheduled in February. Patrick Whetstone, a 19-year-old freshman at the time of the assault, was arrested and charged with third-degree sexual abuse, according to the complaint.

ISU Police Capt. Aaron DeLashmutt said in a previous interview with the Daily that the Office of Civil Rights’ investigation into Iowa State did not affect the police’s investigation into the sexual assault. The Associated Press reported John McCarroll, director of University Relations, also said the federal investigation did not affect the university’s investigation into the sexual assault.

The finding of this investigation into Iowa State’s handling of sexual assault cases by the Office of Civil Rights came on the heels of two timely warnings of sexual assault on campus, one of which occurred in a fraternity house, sent to ISU students by email. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and one of its members has since been suspended after the sexual assault.

These instances clearly show that sexual assault is a problem on our campus and in the culture surrounding many of our country’s college campuses. Regardless of the outcome of these investigations, these crimes do happen on our campus, as well as many others, and something needs to be done to change that culture.

More education about sexual violence and discrimination and even healthy relationships is something that would benefit our country’s young adults and possibly even help this culture that allows for sexual assault.

Many young adults come to college without an understanding of what a healthy relationship with others looks like. New ISU students are required to take a short online class about alcohol, safe sex practices and sexual violence and discrimination.

While requiring these classes is a good start, they obviously are not a drastic enough step to improve our culture. A required traditional course could be taught for ISU students on these subjects, with more classes offered for those interested.

More conversations about sexual violence also need to occur on college campuses, whether that is through lectures or round tables on sexual violence hosted by the university or even just discussing the issues more in club and team meetings or Greek houses.

Regardless of the method, a change in the culture that surrounds college campuses and allows for sexual assault needs to happen. Creating more discussions and educational opportunities for young adults at college is the first step to improving this culture.