Pennsylvania's governor Tom Wolf has long been supportive of the type of Title IX regulations that came out under President Obama's watch, which shifted the tone of sexual misconduct allegations towards the victim's interests and away from the accused student's due process rights. It should come as no surprise, then, that Governor Wolf has come out against the recent Title IX amendments that aim to roll that shift back. His justification for his stance, though, only serves to show that this discussion is one of volume, not facts.

Pennsylvania Governor Objects to Title IX Changes

Back in January, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf went on record with his disagreement of the Title IX amendments that are currently pending at Betsy DeVos' Department of Education. In a letter to Secretary DeVos, Governor Wolf urged the Department to reconsider the Title IX amendments, claiming that they would “undermine decades of progress built on the foundational understanding that schools have an obligation to effectively prevent and address gender-based discrimination, harassment, and violence.”

Governor Wolf's $3 Million in Grants for Title IX Enforcement

Of course, it would be remiss to overlook the fact that Governor Wolf's administration has seen lots of investment into the Title IX enforcement mechanisms that President Obama's Department of Education put in place. Through his “It's On Us, PA” campaign, the first state campaign to mirror the national “It's On Us” initiative in the U.S., Governor Wolf has coordinated $3 million in grants over the last three years to Pennsylvania schools. Those funds have been earmarked for sexual misconduct awareness campaigns, training programs, and Title IX enforcement.

With such a high investment in the previous regulatory framework, it should come as no surprise that Governor Wolf has come out so strongly against any changes to Title IX's infrastructure.

A Loud Pronouncement Devoid of New Insight

What is a surprise, though, is that Governor Wolf's denouncement of the Title IX amendments is completely devoid of anything new to say. The justifications he advances for his stance do little more than trumpet the plight of sexual assault and rape victims and survivors and stress their need to be heard and to be safe on campus.

These interests and concerns are already known, though. The question is where to draw the line between the conflicting and often contradicting interests of an alleged victim of sexual misconduct, on the one hand, and the due process rights of the person being accused of misconduct, on the other.

To that end, Governor Wolf's statement was silent.

Title IX Defense Lawyers and National Advisors - LLF Law Firm

Until a manageable enforcement mechanism can be created for Title IX – one that sifts through worthy and meritless allegations and provides the protection that true victims need, all while preserving the due process rights of students accused of sexual misconduct – we will continue to see loud pronouncements for or against the new Title IX amendments that shed no new light on the problem.

If you have been accused of sexual misconduct and are facing Title IX action, LLF Law Firm can help.  They are national Title IX advisors and defense lawyers who can be reached online or by calling (888) 535-3686.