When it comes to college athletes and sexual misconduct, colleges and universities have learned that it pays to tread lightly. To decrease the likelihood of backlash, many institutions have decided to take the route of full disclosure. Schools now 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. This has prompted due process advocates to question whether these measures are genuinely fair or overzealous.
If you are a student-athlete who's been accused of sexual misconduct under Title IX, the process you're about to endure won't be easy. You will be judged by your classmates, friends, family, and the general public far before you get the chance to prove your innocence. 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. To successfully navigate your school's process as a student-athlete respondent, you absolutely need the help of an attorney-advisor. Here are a few reasons why:
There's a Possibility You'll Lose Your Scholarship
In the past, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was continually under fire for going too easy on college athletes with a history of sexual violence. But the NCAA's response to allegations and determinations are slowly changing, as the association has started cracking down on student-athletes in this predicament by stripping scholarships. With so much at stake, it's in your best interest to get the help of a legal representative.
The Odds Are Against You
You may be surprised to hear that merely being a student-athlete significantly increases your chance of being accused of sexual misconduct. In fact, according to a study conducted by ESPN's “Outside the Lines,” college athletes are actually three times more likely than other students to be in this predicament.
The data in the analysis provided that about 6.3% of complaints against students 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 Might Be Suspended Pending the Investigation
One thing is for certain these days, schools aren't hesitant to bring down the hammer when their athletes acquire criminal charges. The decision to suspend athletes is often made by coaches and athletic directors. In a perfect world, you'd trust that these figures would make a life-altering decision in your best interest, right? Wrong. Many athletes have learned the hard way that their ineligibility to play may or may not be rooted in the desire to keep their athletic program scandal-free.
Are You a Student-Athlete Who's Been Accused of Sexual Misconduct at a Tennessee College or University? 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 Tennessee 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.
Tennessee 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:
American Baptist College
Aquinas College
Austin Peay State University
Baptist Health Sciences University
Belmont University
Bethel University
Bryan College
Carson-Newman University
Christian Brothers University
Crown College
Cumberland University
East Tennessee State University
Fisk University
Freed-Hardeman University
Harding School of Theology
Johnson University
King University
Knoxville College
Lane College
Lee University
LeMoyne-Owen College
Lincoln Memorial University
Lipscomb University
Maryville College
Meharry Medical College
Memphis Theological Seminary
Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
Middle Tennessee State University
Mid-South Christian College
Milligan University
Nashville School of Law
New College Franklin
Oxford Graduate School
Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Rhodes College
Sewanee: The University of the South
South College
Southern Adventist University
Southern College of Optometry
Tennessee Bible College
Tennessee State University (HBCU)
Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Tusculum University
Union University
University of Memphis
University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Martin
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
University of Tennessee Southern
Vanderbilt University
Welch College
Williamson 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
