Missoula

UM president says he welcomes DOJ advice on sexual assault investigation

Posted: Jul 13, 2012 7:00 AM by Breanna Roy - MTN News
Updated: Jul 13, 2012 7:00 AM

MISSOULA - Investigators with The Department of Justice gathered more information today as they met with The University of Montana President.

University of Montana President Royce Engstrom said two representatives from the Justice Department met with him for about two and a half hours Thursday morning, but he said they didn't ask him for anything he hasn't already stated publicly.

UM is under part of the investigation the Department of Justice announced two months ago, which is also looking into how the Missoula police department and the Missoula County attorney's office handled reported sexual assaults.

Engstrom said he is looking at the interaction as an opportunity to learn.

"I hope that they give us some feedback that helps us define some of the areas that we can improve," Engstrom said. "Our goal in the end is to make the University of Montana one of the safest campuses in America and if the Dept. of Justice can help us do that, then I'm all ears."

Engstrom said he did not have an entire list of who else at UM they met with, but it included a number of people who have been visible in the effort along the way.

He did not know whether that included former head football coach Robin Pflugrad or former Athletics Director Jim O'Day.