Lt. Col. Michael Kelvington of Ohio State University twice violated the campus order and was removed from campus pending an ongoing investigation.

Police reports indicate that Lt. Col. Michael Kelvington of the Ohio State Army ROTC violated a residency order in February and March and has been assigned off campus since then.

According to a February 23 report from the Ohio State Police Department, Kelvington “continued to violate a no-contact order” – also known as a “stay-away order” – and was “only allowed to be on campus for approved appointments.” Another police report dated March 26 states that Kelvington violated the order again.

Although the latter report states that Kelvington was placed on “university leave” following his second reported violation, university spokesman Chris Booker stated that Kelvington was required to work off campus due to an ongoing Title IX investigation.

“Ohio State has zero tolerance for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind. When misconduct is alleged, we respond quickly, provide support services when needed, investigate allegations and hold individuals accountable when warranted,” Booker said in a statement. “We have taken steps within ROTC to create a safe and healthy environment and to support any cadets who need help. Lt. Col. Kelvington has been removed from campus pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Federal regulations under Title IX prevent us from providing further comment on an ongoing investigation.”

Out of “respect for the process,” Kelvington declined to comment on the alleged violations.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination, including based on sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the U.S. Department of Education. websiteSexual assault, other forms of sexual violence, and the treatment of LGBTQI+ students are among several other “key issue areas” covered by Title IX, according to the website.

On March 27, The Lantern filed a public records request with the university under Section 149.43 et seq. of the Ohio Open Records Law regarding the Kelvington investigation.

On May 29, the university sent the two police reports mentioned above as part of the request, but said that “copies of all complaints about (Kelvington’s) conduct” and “all internal investigative materials” were “exempt from disclosure pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 149.43(A)(1)(h) and 149.43(A)(2).”

Accordingly Official online publication of Ohio laws and regulationsthe cited provisions of the Ohio Revised Code state that “confidential law enforcement investigative records” are not considered “public records” available for inspection and copying if their release would result in “a substantial likelihood of disclosure” of the identity of a suspect, the identity of a confidential source, confidential investigative procedures, and/or information that could endanger law enforcement officials or other parties.

The Lantern will continue to monitor this ongoing investigation and report information as it becomes available.