Are you a student in Utah's Provo-Orem metropolitan area? Have you been accused of a Title IX sexual misconduct violation?
Whether you're a student at a major university like Brigham Young University or you currently attend high school in one of the area's suburbs, like Alpine, Goshen, or Highland, it's important to understand how such accusations can potentially affect—and even derail—your academic career.
Help is available in these circumstances. Lawyers with our Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team have experience handling cases like yours throughout Utah. If you need Title IX defense services in the Provo-Orem metropolitan area, we're available to offer the representation you deserve. Learn more about how we can help by calling our offices today at 888-535-3686 or submitting your information online.
What is Title IX?
Title IX isn't exactly a law, although many informally understand it or consider it to be one. It's technically an amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965.
The general purpose of Title IX is to ensure that all schools receiving any form of federal funding refrain from discriminating against any students on the basis of sex. What this actually means on a practical level is a somewhat complex matter, given that Title IX rules have changed and continue to change over the years.
For your purposes, “discrimination” in the context of Title IV could now involve a school failing to take action when a student is the victim of sexual misconduct at the hands of someone associated with the school—such as a fellow student.
The thinking is that if a student engages in sexual misconduct against a classmate, they are interfering with said classmate's ability to access and take advantage of an educational program. The school is thus engaging in discrimination if it allows this misconduct to continue without taking action.
Schools that don't comply with Title IX rules can lose federal funding and benefits. While it's certainly important for schools and universities to have systems in place to guard against sexual misconduct, the possible consequences for non-compliance sometimes result in schools handling Title IX cases improperly.
It's important to know your rights if you've been accused of a Title IX violation. However, the rules can sometimes allow for due process violations, putting a student like you at risk of unfair punishment. Guarding against such an outcome is just one reason to enlist the help of our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm.
Why Schools and Universities in the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area Can Mishandle Title IX Violation Cases
Title IX's wording and rules aren't set in stone. Again, they've evolved over the course of decades.
The federal government routinely provides schools with new guidelines to assist with Title IX compliance. While this may seem helpful, such changes and updates to existing policies and guidelines can result in confusion at the Title IX coordinators' offices across Provo-Orem metropolitan area schools and universities.
It's also never been clearly established the precise degree to which the executive branch has the freedom to interpret Title IX. Thus, in recent years, presidents have often behaved in a manner indicating they believe they have significant latitude to interpret the amendment as they please.
This has resulted in even greater confusion among those responsible for ensuring schools in the Provo-Orem metropolitan area comply with Title IX. Every time a new administration comes in, changes in guidelines and rules can lead to a generally chaotic understanding of how schools and universities must apply Title IX.
What does this mean for a student accused of sexual misconduct that could qualify as a Title IX violation for a school that fails to address the matter? It means that the individuals who are tasked with addressing such matters may not actually know what they're doing.
This isn't meant to be a professional criticism of Title IX coordinators at schools and universities in the Provo-Orem metropolitan area. It's simply difficult for these individuals and their offices to properly enforce the rules when the rules themselves, and the guidance upon which enforcement is based, are always changing.
Unfortunately, the fact that Title IX coordinators might not know what they should be doing under the law doesn't mean they have no power. On the contrary, a lack of clarity regarding these matters could put a student accused of a violation at significant risk of being sanctioned. This should highlight for you the value of working with our Student Defense Team when you've been accused of sexual misconduct, and your school has opened a Title IX case accordingly.
We Offer Title IX Defense Services Throughout the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area
Major universities within Utah's Provo-Orem metropolitan area include:
- Brigham Young University
- Provo College
- Utah Valley University
The area's elementary and secondary schools include:
- Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy
- Utah County Academy of Sciences
- Lincoln Academy
- Timpview High School
- Centennial Middle School
- Odyssey Charter School
- Reagan Academy
- Mountainville Academy
- Skyridge High School
- Soldier Hollow Charter School
- Canyon Crest School
- Renaissance Academy
- Belmont School
- Noah Webster Academy
- Provo High School
- John Hancock Charter School
- Walden School of Liberal Arts
- Summit Academy High School
Along with the above public schools, the Provo-Orem metropolitan area is also home to such private schools as:
- Ivy Hall Academy
- Arches Academy
- Kids Village
- Freedom Preparatory Academy
- Challenger School – Traverse Mountain
- American Heritage Schools
- Provo Canyon School
In addition, some students in the Provo-Orem area may be enrolled in miscellaneous educational programs like:
- AmeriTech College
- Utah College of Dental Hygiene
- Mountainland Technical College
- Phlebotomy Training Specialists
At the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team, we're prepared to represent a student from virtually any school or educational program in the Provo-Orem metropolitan area if they've been accused of a Title IX sexual misconduct violation. Even if you don't see your school listed above, if you're a student in the area, we're available to offer essential defense services.
Potential Penalties in a Title IX Case in the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area
The penalties a student may face if they're accused of a Title IX violation can depend, at least in part, on the policies of an individual school. For example, according to Brigham Young University's policies, sanctions for students found to have violated Title IX may include:
- Notice
- Warning
- Probation
- Suspension
- Restrictions on representing the university in any official capacity
- Expulsion
- A ban from campus
Various factors can influence the specific penalties a student may incur if their school finds a Title IX violation has occurred. However, it's important to remember that when schools don't comply with Title IX, they run the risk of losing federal funding.
As such, schools tend to err on the side of caution in these cases. At a minimum, schools tend to suspend students found responsible for Title IX violations. It's not uncommon for a school to strongly consider expulsion when a student violates Title IX.
In other words, it's safe to assume the outcome of your Title IX case could prevent you from continuing to attend school (at least at your current educational institution) if your school determines you've committed a violation. Guard against this with the help of our Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team.
The Potential Long-Term Impacts of a Suspension or Expulsion
Contacting our team right away when you learn you've been accused of a Title IX violation is critical. As discussed previously, schools often approach these cases with a combination of proactive vigilance and disorganized chaos. While it's understandable that schools take such matters seriously, if you don't have a proper defense, it's easy for a violation of your rights to occur.
You should also consider how the outcome of a case may affect your life in ways you haven't considered. For example, perhaps you're suspended from high school for a period of time after being found responsible for a Title IX violation.
Even if there's no accompanying notation indicating the nature of the conduct that resulted in the suspension, there will still be a gap in your transcript. You may have to explain this gap when applying to college. As such, a suspension for a Title IX violation could prevent you from achieving your long-term academic goals.
Disciplinary issues resulting from a Title IX violation can also affect a student when applying to:
- Graduate school
- Internships
- Transfer schools
- Jobs
Someone may ask you to explain the reason you faced a disciplinary issue when you apply to any of the above. This is just one way in which a suspension or expulsion due to an alleged Title IX violation can limit your future.
We at the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team offer the peace of mind that comes from knowing experienced professionals are handling your case. Be aware that in some circumstances, it's possible to appeal the outcome of Title IX disciplinary proceedings beyond the school level. We'll consider all potential relevant strategies when determining how to handle your case.
How the Lento Law Firm Defends Students Accused of Title IX Violations in the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area
Every school has its own policy regarding how to handle Title IX cases. Generally, however, schools and universities often base their policies on guidelines from the federal government. From major cities like Provo and Orem to suburbs like Payson, Saratoga Springs, and Elk Ridge, schools throughout the area have procedures that, due to Title IX rules, often favor the complainant.
Our team helps students accused of Title IX violations in such ways as:
- Navigating the process: It can be very overwhelming for a student to face an investigation when a classmate or other such party has accused them of an act that, if the school doesn't take action accordingly, could constitute a Title IX sexual misconduct violation. Our lawyers can guide you through every step of an investigation to minimize stress and protect your rights.
- Appealing: Our goal is often to help a student avoid being sanctioned for sexual misconduct in the first place. Depending on the scenario, we may achieve this goal by identifying weaknesses in the case against a student or helping a student establish an alibi. However, if a school does sanction a student, its Title IX policies will also include policies regarding how a student may appeal the outcome of their case. Attorneys with our Student Defense Team can help with an appeal by applying our understanding of Title IX in general and an individual school's policies in particular.
- Negotiating with the Office of General Counsel: As touched upon briefly in the last section of this overview, when appeals at the school level are unsuccessful, it's often possible to continue appealing a case by negotiating with a school's Office of General Counsel (OGC). Students also have the right to file lawsuits when they believe they've been unfairly punished for sexual misconduct under Title IX rules. That said, litigation can be costly and time-consuming. Our attorneys often have success negotiating with a school's OGC, helping our clients avoid prolonged legal battles.
We're prepared to represent students all across the Provo-Orem metropolitan area, including students from such communities as:
- Alpine
- American Fork
- Cedar Fort
- Cedar Hills
- Eagle Mountain
- Elk Ridge
- Eureka
- Fairfield
- Genola
- Goshen
- Highland
- Lehi
- Levan
- Lindon
- Mapleton
- Mona
- Nephi
- Payson
- Pleasant Grove
- Rocky Ridge
- Salem
- Santaquin
- Saratoga Springs
- Spanish Fork
- Springville
- Vinyard
- Woodland Hills
Remember, time is of the essence now. Contact our team, hire our firm, and we'll begin working on a defense strategy tailored to the specific details and factors of your case.
Why the Lento Law Firm is the Right Choice to Handle Your Title IX Defense Case in the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area
Our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm has cultivated a nationwide reputation for effectively handling Title IX cases. Schools know our name and thus know to take the matter seriously when a student accused of a Title IX violation enlists our help.
What's most important is taking these matters seriously yourself. As we've established, due in part to the confusion surrounding Title IX issues, simply being accused of a Title IX violation can have profound implications for your future. Protect yourself by coordinating with our Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. Get started today by submitting your information via our online contact form or by calling our offices at 888-535-3686.
