School can be a lot of fun. Playing practical jokes on each other can be a great way to bring friends closer together – after all, the best practical jokes get funnier each time you and your friends “remember that time when . . . “ But practical jokes can also cross a line and land the perpetrator in trouble. Take something like “pantsing,” for example. (Pantsing, according to one dictionary, means “to yank down the pants of (someone) as a prank or joke.”) But if you “pants” someone and expose their genitals, you could find yourself facing a Title IX investigation and disciplinary proceeding.

Title IX disciplinary cases are serious. Schools are typically eager to show that they take their Title IX enforcement obligations seriously, which means you could easily be facing suspension or even expulsion for something that, in your mind, was a harmless prank. If you've been accused of a Title IX violation, contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team for help. We can be reached at 888.535.3686 or by completing our contact form so that we can get back to you to schedule a confidential consultation.

Is Pantsing Considered Sexual Misconduct?

Of course, Title IX doesn't directly address the issue of pantsing. However, the main question that would affect whether pantsing could rise to the level of Title IX misconduct would be whether the target person's genitals were exposed to the public. A side issue would be whether there were any other indications that the pantsing was meant to harass the victim rather than to entertain everyone involved, including the victim.

While the idea that pantsing could rise to the level of a Title IX violation might seem absurd, it is worth taking a step back and considering the different ways that the act could play out.

One way is fairly innocuous: the victim's pants are lowered, leaving their undergarments in place. There is no exposure of the victim's genitals. Assuming there are no other factors that would affect a Title IX misconduct evaluation, this is probably not a Title IX case.

Taking things a step further, however, changes things. If the act of pantsing lowers both the victim's pants and their undergarments, exposing their genitals, the perpetrator could very well be facing a Title IX misconduct claim, particularly if the victim files a Title IX misconduct report with the school.

This is where other factors can affect the outcome. If the pantsing was nothing more than a good-natured attempt to embarrass the victim and wasn't meant to sexually harass the victim, then the Title IX case will be harder to prove. If, however, the pantsing was not so good-natured but was part of an effort to sexually harass the victim or create a hostile environment for the victim based on their sex or sexual orientation, then a Title IX case may be easier to prove.

For example, if the act of pantsing is accompanied by catcalls, sexual slurs, or other words that focus on the sex or sexual preferences of the victim, it would likely be easier to make a case for a Title IX violation – whether or not the victim's genitals were exposed. Or if the same victim is repeatedly subject to embarrassing pranks like pantsing, that could also support a Title IX misconduct allegation.

The Lento Law Firm Can Defend You Against Title IX Misconduct Allegations

If you've been accused of Title IX misconduct by someone at your school, the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can help. We have years of experience defending students all across the country against Title IX misconduct allegations and against allegations of other serious forms of school misconduct. We understand the often-changing Title IX rules and regulations that apply in these cases and know the procedures that schools use to investigate and resolve them.

Call the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team today at 888.535.3686 or fill out our contact form so that we can schedule a confidential consultation to hear more about your Title IX case. Your future is important to you; let the Lento Law Firm protect it!