Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sexual discrimination in higher education. However, it also ties the federal funding that colleges and universities receive to the aggressive enforcement of sexual misconduct allegations. If you have been accused of sexual harassment or assault on a college campus in Kansas, you can expect the response to be swift and extreme.
Having a Title IX defense attorney at your side acting as your advisor can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.
Why You Should Choose an Attorney as Your Title IX Advisor
Students and other people who have been accused of violating Title IX in Kansas – whether by stalking someone, harassing them, or sexually assaulting them – have a right to an advisor. While many people want a parent, close friend, or trusted advisor, appointing an attorney as your advisor can be a better move: Attorneys are familiar with the confrontational attitude of an investigation and understand how to deliver your best case at the hearing.
The Title IX Process in Kansas
While the investigation process for Title IX allegations is different in every college and university in Kansas, it always follows the same format:
- The complaint: The Title IX process begins with the complaint – a claim of sexual misconduct against you. The nature of this complaint will dictate much of what is to come.
- Interim measures: In the immediate aftermath of many Title IX allegations, schools in Kansas are known to issue no-contact orders to the accused, requiring you to stay away from the person who filed the complaint. This can lead to housing or even class reassignments, if necessary. Other interim measures can also be imposed including an interim suspension pending further investigation.
- The investigation: The school will then put its Title IX officer or an independent investigator to the task of looking into the claims laid out in the complaint. This often involves an intense interview with the accused, which can carry great weight, going forward.
- The hearing: At colleges and universities which use a "hearing" model, as the name implies, the investigation culminates in a hearing, where a panel will hear the cases both against you and in your defense to determine if you violated Title IX. The rules of conduct for this hearing are where there is the most variance between schools in Kansas.
- Sanctions: If the panel at the hearing decides that you violated Title IX, sanctions will be issued. These can range from a warning to expulsion from school.
- Appealing the outcome: Students who are unsatisfied with the outcome can appeal the case, if they can point to a defect in the process, or can challenge the nature or severity of the sanctions they received.
Kansas Title IX Advisor Joseph D. Lento
Joseph D. Lento is a student discipline defense attorney who can serve as your advisor if you have been accused of sexual misconduct on a campus in Kansas. Contact him online or by phone at 888-535-3686 for the help you need to defend against serious allegations that can ruin your college life and put a huge obstacle in your way as you set out to start a career.
Kansas colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's Title IX advisor during investigations (in addition to hearings and appeals) include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Allen County Community College
- Baker University
- Barclay College
- Barton County Community College
- Benedictine College
- Bethany College
- Bethel College North Newton
- Brown Mackie College Kansas City
- Brown Mackie College Salina
- Bryan University Topeka
- Butler Community College
- Central Baptist Theological Seminary
- Central Christian College of Kansas
- Cleveland Chiropractic College
- Cloud County Community College
- Coffeyville Community College
- Colby Community College
- Cowley County Community College
- Dodge City Community College
- Donnelly College
- Emporia State University
- Flint Hills Technical College
- Fort Hays State University
- Fort Scott Community College
- Friends University
- Garden City Community College
- Hesston College
- Highland Community College
- Hutchinson Community College
- Independence Community College
- ITT Technical Institute Wichita
- Johnson County Community College
- Kansas City Kansas Community College
- Kansas State University
- Kansas Wesleyan University
- Labette Community College
- Manhattan Area Technical College
- Manhattan Christian College
- McPherson College
- MidAmerica Nazarene University
- National American University Overland Park
- National American University Wichita
- Neosho County Community College
- Newman University
- North Central Kansas Technical College
- Ottawa University Ottawa
- Pinnacle Career Institute Lawrence
- Pittsburg State University
- Pratt Community College
- Salina Area Technical College
- Seward County Community College and Area Technical School
- Southwestern College
- Sterling College
- Tabor College
- The Art Institutes International Kansas City
- University of Kansas
- University of Phoenix Wichita Campus
- University of Saint Mary
- Vatterott College Wichita
- Washburn University
- Wichita Area Technical College
- Wichita State University
- Wright Career College
It is critical to make certain the Title IX investigation at your college or university is handled properly and that the accused student's or employee's interests are protected from as early as possible during the sexual misconduct investigative process. One major reason is because even at schools where a finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct charges is made at a hearing, the investigation will set the stage for what the hearing panel is provided prior to a hearing (and what the hearing panel will in large part rely on at a hearing), and at schools where the finding of responsibility is made solely through the investigative process, what takes place during the investigation itself will determine whether the accused is found responsible or not responsible for Title IX charges.
Unfortunately, some students, families, and college employees make the mistake of not taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible when accused of sexual misconduct. Some people will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," their school will be fair and impartial and will arrive at the truth. In a perfect world this may be the case, but in a perfect world, sexual misconduct and Title IX charges would not exist.
Fighting passionately for the future of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation for a decade, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that an accused's academic and professional future 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 and educational consultant to students facing sexual misconduct investigations and disciplinary cases in Kansas and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
