When it comes to college athletes and sexual misconduct, colleges and universities have learned to tread lightly in Title IX cases. Presidents of institutions (and their public relations teams) are mindful that the mismanagement of one case is all it takes to tarnish a reputation they're worked hard to build. In an era where immediate punishment and total disclosure is expected, colleges find themselves struggling to find the line between fair treatment and overzealous measures.
In fear of backlash, many Ohio institutions today rather be safe than sorry. The status quo now is to publicly announce the incident to the masses and impose a swift suspension in the name of being transparent, all while leaving student-athletes in a tailspin.
If you are a student-athlete who's been accused of sexual misconduct, the process you're about to undergo will be far from easy. You will be judged by your classmates, friends, family, and the general public before you get the opportunity to clear your name. If the claims are false or exaggerated, it may feel like nobody believes you. But the worst part of this whole debacle is the fact that your athletic career is in jeopardy.
Regardless of the situation, all students deserve due process and the preservation of their rights. The only way to affirm you get what you are promised is with the representation of an experienced student defense attorney. If you still aren't convinced, here are a few reasons why you should consider letting a legal professional help you:
You Are More Likely to be Named a Respondent
You may be surprised to hear that merely being a student-athlete significantly increases your chances of being accused of sexual misconduct. In fact, according to a study conducted by ESPN's “Outside the Lines,” college athletes are three times more likely than their average counterparts to be named as a respondent. Yes, you read that right.
The data in the study revealed that about 6.3% of Title IX complaints alleging sexual misconduct involved an athlete as a person accused of wrongdoing. Whether or not the student-athletes were actually found “responsible” for these accusations were not included in the study.
You Could Lose Your Scholarship
As a student-athlete, you train hard your whole for the opportunity to go to the higher education institution of your dreams on scholarship. But despite the blood, sweat, and tears you put into honing your craft, a scholarship is still contingent upon certain conditions. In fact, it's pretty easy for a scholarship to slip through your fingers.
All it takes is one false accusation. In the past, athletes with a history of sexual violence only got a slap on the wrist from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). But the NCAA's response to allegations and determinations are slowly changing. Now, the organization is much less likely to let athletes slide, and is much more likely to strip scholarships. With so much at stake, it's in your best interest to get the help of a legal representative.
You Might Not Be Eligible to Play
After you've been accused of sexual misconduct, your school will conduct a fact-finding investigation. Throughout the course of this investigation, a series of interim measures may be imposed until a determination is made. Among the most detrimental interim measures for student-athletes is suspension from the team.
In the absence of specific uniform protocol and guidelines regarding who imposes interim measures, outside parties like athletic directors and coaches have the liberty to make decisions that will affect your athletic career. In a perfect world, you'd trust that these decisions are made in your best interest, but unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Many athletes learn the hard way that their ineligibility to play may or may not be rooted in the desire to maintain scandal-free programs.
Are You a Student-Athlete Who's Been Accused of Sexual Misconduct? Contact the Lento Law Firm
The only way to make sure your voice is heard and that your rights are protected in a Title IX investigation in Ohio is to retain a student defense attorney. The assistance of an attorney-advisor is invaluable in the Title IX process, especially for respondents who are student-athletes. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has the skill and expertise to help you effectively navigate the process. For a case evaluation or for more information about his representation, contact him online or give him a call at 888-535-3686 today.
Ohio colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student athlete's Title IX advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Allegheny Wesleyan College
- American Institute of Alternative Medicine
- Antonelli College Cincinnati
- Art Academy of Cincinnati
- Ashland University
- ATS Institute of Technology
- Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Baldwin Wallace College
- Beckfield College Tri County
- Belmont Technical College
- Bluffton University
- Bowling Green State University Firelands
- Bowling Green State University Main Campus
- Bradford School
- Brown Mackie College Akron
- Brown Mackie College Cincinnati
- Brown Mackie College Findlay
- Brown Mackie College North Canton
- Bryant & Stratton College Cleveland
- Bryant and Stratton College Eastlake
- Bryant and Stratton College Parma
- Capital University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Cedarville University
- Central Ohio Technical College
- Central State University
- Chamberlain College of Nursing Ohio
- Chancellor University
- Chatfield College
- Cincinnati Christian University
- Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
- Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
- Clark State Community College
- Cleveland Institute of Art
- Cleveland Institute of Music
- Cleveland State University
- College of Mount St. Joseph
- Columbus College of Art and Design
- Columbus State Community College
- Cuyahoga Community College District
- Davis College
- Daymar College Chillicothe
- Daymar College Jackson
- Daymar College Lancaster
- Daymar College New Boston
- Defiance College
- Denison University
- DeVry University Ohio
- Eastern Gateway Community College
- Edison State Community College
- ETI Technical College
- Fortis College Centeville
- Fortis College Cincinnati
- Fortis College Columbus
- Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls
- Fortis College Ravenna
- Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Franklin University
- Gallipolis Career College
- Gods Bible School and College
- Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science
- Harrison College Grove City
- Heidelberg University
- Herzing University Akron Campus
- Herzing University Toledo
- Hiram College
- Hocking College
- Hondros College
- International College of Broadcasting
- ITT Technical Institute Akron
- ITT Technical Institute Columbus
- ITT Technical Institute Dayton
- ITT Technical Institute Hilliard
- ITT Technical Institute Maumee
- ITT Technical Institute Norwood
- ITT Technical Institute Strongsville
- ITT Technical Institute Warrensville Heights
- ITT Technical Institute Youngstown
- James A Rhodes State College
- John Carroll University
- Kent State University at Ashtabula
- Kent State University at East Liverpool
- Kent State University at Geauga
- Kent State University at Kent
- Kent State University at Salem
- Kent State University at Stark
- Kent State University at Trumbull
- Kent State University at Tuscarawas
- Kenyon College
- Kettering College of Medical Arts
- Lake Erie College
- Lakeland Community College
- Lincoln College of Technology Cleveland
- Lincoln College of Technology Columbus
- Lincoln College of Technology Dayton
- Lincoln College of Technology Franklin LCT
- Lincoln College of Technology Toledo
- Lincoln College of Technology Tri County
- Lincoln College of Technology Vine Street
- Lorain County Community College
- Lourdes University
- Malone University
- Marietta College
- Marion Technical College
- Mercy College of Ohio
- Miami University
- Miami University Hamilton
- Miami University Middletown
- Miami Jacobs Career College
- Miami Jacobs Career College Columbus
- Miami Jacobs Career College Dayton
- Miami Jacobs Career College Sharonville
- Miami Jacobs Career College Springboro
- Miami Jacobs Career College Troy
- Mount Carmel College of Nursing
- Mount Vernon Nazarene University
- Muskingum University
- National College Cincinnati
- National College Columbus
- National College Dayton
- National College Stow
- National College Willoughby Hills
- National College Youngstown
- North Central State College
- Northwest State Community College
- Notre Dame College
- Oberlin College
- Ohio Business College Columbus
- Ohio Business College Sandusky
- Ohio Business College Sheffield
- Ohio Christian University
- Ohio College of Massotherapy Inc
- Ohio Dominican University
- Ohio Mid Western College
- Ohio Northern University
- Ohio State University
- Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
- Ohio State University Lima Campus
- Ohio State University Mansfield Campus
- Ohio State University Marion Campus
- Ohio State University Newark Campus
- Ohio University Chillicothe Campus
- Ohio University Eastern Campus
- Ohio University Lancaster Campus
- Ohio University Main Campus
- Ohio University Southern Campus
- Ohio University Zanesville Campus
- Ohio Valley College of Technology
- Ohio Wesleyan University
- Otterbein University
- Owens Community College
- Pontifical College Josephinum
- Professional Skills Institute
- Rabbinical College Telshe
- Remington College Cleveland Campus
- Remington College Cleveland West Campus
- Rosedale Bible College
- Sanford Brown College Middleburg Heights,
- School of Advertising Art Inc.
- Shawnee State University
- Sinclair Community College
- Southern State Community College
- Stark State College
- Stautzenberger College Brecksville
- Stautzenberger College Maumee
- Terra State Community College
- The Art Institute of Cincinnati
- The Art Institute of Ohio Cincinnati
- The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- The College of Wooster
- The University of Findlay
- Tiffin University
- Tri State Bible College
- Trumbull Business College
- Union Institute & University
- University of Akron Main Campus
- University of Akron Wayne College
- University of Cincinnati Clermont College
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus
- University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College
- University of Dayton
- University of Mount Union
- University of Northwestern Ohio
- University of Phoenix Cincinnati Campus
- University of Phoenix Cleveland Campus
- University of Phoenix Columbus Ohio Campus
- University of Rio Grande
- University of Toledo
- Urbana University
- Ursuline College
- Vatterott College Cleveland
- Virginia Marti College of Art and Design
- Walsh University
- Washington State Community College
- Wilberforce University
- Wilmington College
- Wittenberg University
- Wright State University Lake Campus
- Wright State University Main Campus
- Xavier University
- Youngstown State University
- Zane State College
All students must be extremely mindful when accused of sexual misconduct at their college or university; student athletes in particular, however, can have even more concerns at all stage of Title IX proceedings because the stakes are higher yet – When first contacted by their school's Title IX office, when a sexual misconduct investigation begins, when facing a hearing or an appeal, or when seeking further recourse by filing a Title IX complaint with the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights when necessary. For student athletes in Ohio who are facing a Title IX case and their families, it is critical to take the necessary precautions as soon as possible, including having an experienced attorney advisor, when accused of sexual misconduct. Unfortunately, many student athletes and their families, not being as familiar what is at stake and also their rights in the process, will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," everything will work out. Title IX cases can be won, but student athletes and their families must recognize, however, that achieving a favorable in a Title IX case requires a dedicated and intensive approach best handled by a professional who has a track record of successes in the Title IX disciplinary arena.
Fighting passionately for the future of student athletes at colleges and universities throughout the nation for over a decade, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that a student athlete's academic and professional future, in addition to a post-college athletic career, is on the line. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX advisor to student athletes facing sexual misconduct investigations and disciplinary cases in Ohio and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
