A week after state lawmakers reprimanded Georgia Tech for its due-process practices in punishing students accused of sexual assault and other violations, the university withdrew its request for a $47.4 million library complex renovation.
The Tech money, which was slated for the first phase of renovation of the Crosland Tower and Price Gilbert Library, known as Library East and Library West, was the largest construction project the state’s university system requested in its budget proposal to lawmakers.
Tech’s aggressive punishments have led to two lawsuits by students claiming they were unfairly expelled after being accused of sexual assault. One of the students was reinstated by the state’s Board of Regents. Tech has also been criticized, particularly by state Rep. Earl Ehrhart, for disciplining a fraternity accused of hurling racial slurs at a black female student, something the fraternity says did not happen.
Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, said he did not encourage Tech to withdraw its building request, but felt the withdrawal was a clear consequence of last week’s hearing before lawmakers.
The Tech funding withdrawal came as state lawmakers questioned University System officials on their handling of sexual assault on Georgia’s college campuses.
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