What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender-based discrimination against students, staff, and faculty in federally funded educational institutions. Namely, Title IX enforces the notion that every student, regardless of whether they are a man, a woman, or are gay, lesbian, or transgender, is entitled to equal opportunities provided to students and employees in school settings. The vast majority of colleges and universities in the nation - both private and public - comply with this law since most of these institutions receive some form of federal funding, if not significant federal funding.
Although Title IX is commonly applied in situations involving intercollegiate athletics, it offers protections under a number of other areas. Students or employees who have been accused of violating this law may be involved in the following Title IX cases:
- Sexual misconduct and harassment
- Sexual violence, including, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, or sexual coercion
- Bullying
- Policies that disadvantage a particular gender
- Employment discrimination
- The unfair treatment of a gender in intercollegiate sports (scholarships, funding, programs etc.)
- Student and employee opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related fields and programs
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
It's important to emphasize that in recent years, Title IX has been commonly associated with sexual misconduct. This behavior is considered gender-based discrimination under this law, which means that schools are obligated to handle these cases by investigating and ultimately reprimanding perpetrators found guilty of these crimes through Title IX processes. The Department of Education has explicitly stated that if higher education institutions do not appropriately approach and respond to allegations of sexual misconduct, they may be in violation of Title IX.
When a school is in violation of Title IX, it will be required to acknowledge and repair the issue it created. Whether it be purposely destroying evidence to disadvantage a respondent or refusing to offer a party afforded resources like access to a campus psychiatrist, these actions must be corrected. Higher education institutions also face the dreaded penalty of losing some or all funding provided by the federal government.
Representation
Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents respondents who believe that their Title IX rights have been violated. This entails:
- Student defendants - students who have been accused of sexual misconduct/harassment and other crimes or acts that violate a school's code of conduct will need the help of an attorney to effectively navigate through intricate Title IX processes and ensure that they are being granted the rights they were promised by the institution.
- College and university employees - professors, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, coaches, faculty, etc, may have been recently notified of allegations against them and will need an attorney to help defend and protect their rights.
National Title IX Attorney
If you are a student or employee of a college or university and are facing allegations of discriminatory behavior, you should consult with an experienced attorney who is well-versed in Title IX's policies and procedures. Skilled legal professional Joseph D. Lento has extensive experience representing people who have been in your shoes. Contact him today for help.
