Student-Athletes Accused of Title IX in California

Title IX is a federal law that bans gender discrimination in federally funded college and university campuses. Upon its enactment in 1972, the law was utilized to address ongoing complaints of inequality in intercollegiate sports, but in recent years this law is brought up in circumstances involving a more pervasive form of gender discrimination: sexual misconduct. 

The majority of California higher education institutions adhere to Title IX. So, once your school receives notification of sexual misconduct, the Title IX process will begin. Most California schools are required, in accordance with Title IX, to promptly and equitably adjudicate all complaints. 

A “respondent” is a party in this matter who has been accused of sexual misconduct. The stigma that is attached to the role of a respondent in these cases is incredibly damaging within itself. However, being a student-athlete presents another layer of complexity to an already uphill battle for respondents in this process. To successfully navigate your school's guidelines and to achieve a fair outcome, you absolutely need the help of an attorney-advisor. Here are some reasons why:

You Might Be Suspended Pending The Investigation

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. Of 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. 

You Could Lose Your Scholarship

Because of pressure from lobbyists and advocacy groups, The NCAA is cracking down on student-athletes who are found responsible for sexual misconduct. Its Committee to Combat Sexual Violence has made a pledge to become stricter about barring college-athletes who have been found responsible for sexual misconduct from receiving athletic scholarships.

College Athletes are More Likely to be Named as Respondents in Title IX Complaints 

According to an analysis by ESPN television program, Outside the Lines, college athletes are three times more likely than other students to be accused of sexual misconduct at Power 5 conference schools. The data provided that about 6.3 percent of Title IX complaints against students - whether the complaint resulted in a formal investigation or not - involved an athlete as the person accused of wrongdoing. Whether or not the student-athletes were found “responsible” for these accusations were not included in the study.

The findings of this analysis may not be all too surprising given the countless number of high-profile cases of sexual misconduct that have surfaced involving very prominent student-athletes. Nonetheless, this information should compel you to ensure that the adjudication process is as fair as it could possibly be. 

Contact the Lento Law Firm Today

The only way to make sure your voice is heard and that your rights are protected in a Title IX investigation 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.

California 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:

• Academy of Art University
• Allan Hancock College
• American Academy of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles
• American Conservatory Theater
• American Jewish University
• American River College
• American University of Health Sciences
• Antelope Valley College
• Argosy University Inland Empire
• Argosy University Los Angeles
• Argosy University Orange County
• Argosy University San Diego
• Argosy University San Francisco Bay Area
• Art Center College of Design
• Azusa Pacific Online University
• Azusa Pacific University
• Bakersfield College
• Barstow Community College
• Berkeley City College
• Bethesda University of California
• Biola University
• Brooks Institute
• Bryan University
• Butte College
• Cabrillo College
• California Baptist University
• California Christian College
• California College of the Arts
• California College San Diego
• California Culinary Academy
• California Institute of Technology
• California Institute of the Arts
• California Lutheran University
• California Maritime Academy
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
• California State Polytechnic University Pomona
• California State University Bakersfield
• California State University Channel Islands
• California State University Chico
• California State University Dominguez Hills
• California State University East Bay
• California State University Fresno
• California State University Fullerton
• California State University Long Beach
• California State University Los Angeles
• California State University Monterey Bay
• California State University Northridge
• California State University Sacramento
• California State University San Bernardino
• California State University San Marcos
• California State University Stanislaus
• Canada College
• Cerritos College
• Cerro Coso Community College
• Chabot College
• Chaffey College Rancho
• Chapman University
• Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
• Citrus College
• City College of San Francisco
• Claremont McKenna College
• Coastline Community College
• Cogswell College
• Coleman University
• College of Alameda
• College of Marin
• College of San Mateo
• College of the Canyons
• College of the Desert
• College of the Redwoods
• College of the Sequoias
• College of the Siskiyous
• Columbia College
• Columbia College Hollywood
• Community Christian College
• Concordia University Irvine
• Contra Costa College
• Copper Mountain Community College
• Cosumnes River College
• Crafton Hills College
• Cuesta College San Luis
• Cuyamaca College
• Cypress College
• De Anza College
• Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre
• Design Institute of San Diego
• DeVry University California
• Diablo Valley College
• Dominican University of California
• East Los Angeles College
• East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program
• El Camino College Compton Center
• El Camino Community College District
• Epic Bible College
• Everest College Anaheim
• Everest College City of Industry
• Everest College Ontario Metro
• Everest College Reseda
• Everest College West Los Angeles
• Evergreen Valley College
• Expression College for Digital Arts
• Fashion Careers College
• Feather River Community College District
• FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles
• FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Orange County
• FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising San Diego
• FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising San Francisco
• Folsom Lake College
• Foothill College
• Fresno City College
• Fresno Pacific University
• Fullerton College
• Gavilan College
• Glendale Community College
• Golden West College
• Golf Academy of America Carlsbad
• Grossmont College
• Hands on Medical Massage School
• Hartnell College
• Harvey Mudd College
• Heald College Concord
• Heald College Fresno
• Heald College Hayward
• Heald College Modesto
• Heald College Roseville
• Heald College San Francisco
• Heald College San Jose
• Heald College Stockton
• Holy Names University
• Hope International University
• Horizon College San Diego
• Humboldt State University
• Humphreys College Stockton and Modesto Campuses
• Imperial Valley College
• International Academy of Design and Technology Sacramento
• International Professional School of Bodywork
• Irvine Valley College
• ITT Technical Institute Clovis
• ITT Technical Institute Concord
• ITT Technical Institute Corona
• ITT Technical Institute Culver City
• ITT Technical Institute Lathrop
• ITT Technical Institute Oakland
• ITT Technical Institute Orange
• ITT Technical Institute Oxnard
• ITT Technical Institute Rancho Cordova
• ITT Technical Institute San Bernardino
• ITT Technical Institute San Diego
• ITT Technical Institute San Dimas
• ITT Technical Institute Sylmar
• ITT Technical Institute Torrance
• ITT Technical Institute West Covina
• John Paul the Great Catholic University
• King's University
• La Sierra University
• Laguna College of Art and Design
• Lake Tahoe Community College
• Laney College
• Las Positas College
• Lassen Community College
• Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Pasadena
• Life Pacific College
• Lincoln University
• Long Beach City College
• Los Angeles City College
• Los Angeles College of Music
• Los Angeles Harbor College
• Los Angeles Mission College
• Los Angeles Pierce College
• Los Angeles Southwest College
• Los Angeles Trade Technical College
• Los Angeles Valley College
• Los Medanos College
• Loyola Marymount University
• Marymount College
• Mendocino College
• Menlo College
• Merced College
• Merritt College
• Mills College
• MiraCosta College
• Mission College
• Modesto Junior College
• Monterey Peninsula College
• Moorpark College
• Moreno Valley College
• Mount St. Mary's College
• Mt Sierra College
• Mt. San Antonio College
• Mt. San Jacinto Community College District
• Musicians Institute
• Napa Valley College
• National University
• Newschool of Architecture and Design
• Norco College
• Notre Dame de Namur University
• Occidental College
• Ohlone Community College
• Orange Coast College
• Otis College of Art and Design
• Oxnard College
• Pacific College of Oriental Medicine LLC San Diego
• Pacific States University
• Pacific Union College
• Palo Verde College
• Palomar College
• Pasadena City College
• Patten University
• Pepperdine University
• Pitzer College
• Platt College Los Angeles
• Platt College Ontario
• Platt College San Diego
• Point Loma Nazarene University
• Pomona College
• Porterville College
• Professional Golfers Career College
• Providence Christian College
• Reedley College
• Rio Hondo College
• Riverside City College
• Sacramento City College
• Saddleback College
• Sage College
• Saint Marys College of California
• San Diego Christian College
• San Diego City College
• San Diego Mesa College
• San Diego Miramar College
• San Diego State University
• San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus
• San Francisco Art Institute
• San Francisco Conservatory of Music
• San Francisco State University
• San Joaquin Delta College
• San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield
• San Joaquin Valley College Fresno
• San Joaquin Valley College Fresno Aviation
• San Joaquin Valley College Hesperia
• San Joaquin Valley College Modesto
• San Joaquin Valley College Online
• San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova
• San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cucamonga
• San Joaquin Valley College Temecula
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia
• San Jose City College
• San Jose State University
• Santa Ana College
• Santa Barbara Business College Bakersfield
• Santa Barbara Business College Santa Maria
• Santa Barbara Business College Ventura
• Santa Barbara City College
• Santa Clara University
• Santa Monica College
• Santa Rosa Junior College
• Santiago Canyon College
• Scripps College
• Shasta Bible College and Graduate School
• Shasta College
• Sierra College
• Simpson University
• Skyline College
• Soka University of America
• Solano Community College
• Sonoma State University
• Southern California Institute of Architecture
• Southern California Institute of Technology
• Southern California Seminary
• Southwestern College
• Stanford University
• SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
• Taft College
• Taft University System
• The Art Institute of California Hollywood
• The Art Institute of California Inland Empire
• The Art Institute of California Los Angeles
• The Art Institute of California Orange County
• The Art Institute of California Sacramento
• The Art Institute of California San Diego
• The Art Institute of California San Francisco
• The Art Institute of California Sunnyvale
• The Master's College and Seminary
• The National Hispanic University
• Thomas Aquinas College
• Touro College Los Angeles
• Trident University International
• Unitek College
• University of California Berkeley
• University of California Davis
• University of California Irvine
• University of California Los Angeles
• University of California Merced
• University of California Riverside
• University of California San Diego
• University of California Santa Barbara
• University of California Santa Cruz
• University of La Verne
• University of Phoenix Bay Area Campus
• University of Phoenix Central Valley Campus
• University of Phoenix Sacramento Valley Campus
• University of Phoenix San Diego Campus
• University of Phoenix Southern California Campus
• University of Redlands
• University of San Diego
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California
• University of the Pacific
• University of the West
• Vanguard University of Southern California
• Ventura College
• Victor Valley College
• West Coast Ultrasound Institute
• West Coast University Los Angeles
• West Coast University Ontario
• West Coast University Orange County
• West Hills College Coalinga
• West Hills College Lemoore
• West Los Angeles College
• West Valley College
• Westmont College
• Westwood College Anaheim
• Westwood College Inland Empire
• Westwood College Los Angeles
• Westwood College South Bay
• Whittier College
• William Jessup University
• Woodbury University
• Woodland Community College
• World Mission University
• Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
• Yuba 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 California 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 California and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.