Nov 15, 2018
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday officially unveiled her long-anticipated "heartless and immoral" proposal to overhaul how universities respond to sexual harassment and assault allegations, inciting outrage among survivors, their advocates, and educators alike.
"This draft rule is a cruel attempt to silence sexual assault survivors and limit their educational opportunity."
--Vanita Gupta, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
"With one in five women sexually assaulted while in college, we are facing a national rape epidemic on our campuses, yet Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration just put out new rules encouraging schools to be more complicit in sexual violence," declared Shaunna Thomas of the women's rights group UltraViolet.
As anticipated from a draft leaked earlier this year and recent reporting by the Washington Post, DeVos' proposal narrows the definition of sexual harassment, reduces schools' liability, and enables attorneys for the accused to cross-examine survivors.
"These rules further protect abusers in a system that is already rigged in their favor and dramatically reduce requirements that schools protect their students," Thomas warned. "With sexual assaults already under-reported and routinely ignored, these new rules will make campuses dramatically more dangerous."
\u201cBetsy DeVos has *finally* released her proposed rules on Title IX, and they\u2019re worse than we could have imagined. These rules would make schools more dangerous and push survivors out of school. It's time to tell her to keep her #HandsOffIX\u201d— Know Your IX (@Know Your IX) 1542385027
DeVos' proposed changes to how universities enforce Title IX--the federal law that bars sex-based discrimination in schools--come after she was widely condemned for scrapping less formal guidelines established under the Obama administration as well as for touting concerns about false allegations, which research shows are incredibly uncommon, after meeting with "men's rights" groups.
\u201cWe advocate for fair school disciplinary processes that uphold the rights of both parties in campus sexual assault and harassment cases.\n\nToday Secretary DeVos proposed a rule that would tip the scales against those who raise their voices.\n\nWe strongly oppose it.\u201d— ACLU (@ACLU) 1542382782
American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten charged that the "announcement of Title IX rollbacks is the latest in a troubling pattern of Secretary DeVos' efforts to dismantle the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights and turn the federal government's back on students who are suffering, vulnerable, or disenfranchised."
"This rule abdicates the responsibility to protect every student's right to safety on campus. It tells academic institutions that they needn't bother helping to protect students; they won't be liable," she added. "These changes once again demonstrate that students are not DeVos' priority."
In a series of tweets detailing what Title IX is, how the law helps survivors, and how critics of Devos' proposal can challenge it, the group End Rape on Campus issued a reminder that "we have the chance to stop [DeVos] from putting these disastrous rules into effect by participating in the notice-and-comment process."
\u201c12/ Final Q: How do I make a comment? \nA: We\u2019ve got you. Be a voice for survivors by learning how to submit at a comment at https://t.co/g7d8QaHGiQ \ud83d\udce3 #HandsOffIX\u201d— End Rape On Campus (@End Rape On Campus) 1542381623
"This draft rule is a cruel attempt to silence sexual assault survivors and limit their educational opportunity," concluded Vanita Gupta of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
"We call on all who support equal opportunity to participate in this comment process," she said, "and make clear that fundamental American values of fairness and equality will not be abandoned and that schools must provide all students an educational environment free from sex discrimination and violence."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday officially unveiled her long-anticipated "heartless and immoral" proposal to overhaul how universities respond to sexual harassment and assault allegations, inciting outrage among survivors, their advocates, and educators alike.
"This draft rule is a cruel attempt to silence sexual assault survivors and limit their educational opportunity."
--Vanita Gupta, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
"With one in five women sexually assaulted while in college, we are facing a national rape epidemic on our campuses, yet Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration just put out new rules encouraging schools to be more complicit in sexual violence," declared Shaunna Thomas of the women's rights group UltraViolet.
As anticipated from a draft leaked earlier this year and recent reporting by the Washington Post, DeVos' proposal narrows the definition of sexual harassment, reduces schools' liability, and enables attorneys for the accused to cross-examine survivors.
"These rules further protect abusers in a system that is already rigged in their favor and dramatically reduce requirements that schools protect their students," Thomas warned. "With sexual assaults already under-reported and routinely ignored, these new rules will make campuses dramatically more dangerous."
\u201cBetsy DeVos has *finally* released her proposed rules on Title IX, and they\u2019re worse than we could have imagined. These rules would make schools more dangerous and push survivors out of school. It's time to tell her to keep her #HandsOffIX\u201d— Know Your IX (@Know Your IX) 1542385027
DeVos' proposed changes to how universities enforce Title IX--the federal law that bars sex-based discrimination in schools--come after she was widely condemned for scrapping less formal guidelines established under the Obama administration as well as for touting concerns about false allegations, which research shows are incredibly uncommon, after meeting with "men's rights" groups.
\u201cWe advocate for fair school disciplinary processes that uphold the rights of both parties in campus sexual assault and harassment cases.\n\nToday Secretary DeVos proposed a rule that would tip the scales against those who raise their voices.\n\nWe strongly oppose it.\u201d— ACLU (@ACLU) 1542382782
American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten charged that the "announcement of Title IX rollbacks is the latest in a troubling pattern of Secretary DeVos' efforts to dismantle the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights and turn the federal government's back on students who are suffering, vulnerable, or disenfranchised."
"This rule abdicates the responsibility to protect every student's right to safety on campus. It tells academic institutions that they needn't bother helping to protect students; they won't be liable," she added. "These changes once again demonstrate that students are not DeVos' priority."
In a series of tweets detailing what Title IX is, how the law helps survivors, and how critics of Devos' proposal can challenge it, the group End Rape on Campus issued a reminder that "we have the chance to stop [DeVos] from putting these disastrous rules into effect by participating in the notice-and-comment process."
\u201c12/ Final Q: How do I make a comment? \nA: We\u2019ve got you. Be a voice for survivors by learning how to submit at a comment at https://t.co/g7d8QaHGiQ \ud83d\udce3 #HandsOffIX\u201d— End Rape On Campus (@End Rape On Campus) 1542381623
"This draft rule is a cruel attempt to silence sexual assault survivors and limit their educational opportunity," concluded Vanita Gupta of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
"We call on all who support equal opportunity to participate in this comment process," she said, "and make clear that fundamental American values of fairness and equality will not be abandoned and that schools must provide all students an educational environment free from sex discrimination and violence."
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday officially unveiled her long-anticipated "heartless and immoral" proposal to overhaul how universities respond to sexual harassment and assault allegations, inciting outrage among survivors, their advocates, and educators alike.
"This draft rule is a cruel attempt to silence sexual assault survivors and limit their educational opportunity."
--Vanita Gupta, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
"With one in five women sexually assaulted while in college, we are facing a national rape epidemic on our campuses, yet Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration just put out new rules encouraging schools to be more complicit in sexual violence," declared Shaunna Thomas of the women's rights group UltraViolet.
As anticipated from a draft leaked earlier this year and recent reporting by the Washington Post, DeVos' proposal narrows the definition of sexual harassment, reduces schools' liability, and enables attorneys for the accused to cross-examine survivors.
"These rules further protect abusers in a system that is already rigged in their favor and dramatically reduce requirements that schools protect their students," Thomas warned. "With sexual assaults already under-reported and routinely ignored, these new rules will make campuses dramatically more dangerous."
\u201cBetsy DeVos has *finally* released her proposed rules on Title IX, and they\u2019re worse than we could have imagined. These rules would make schools more dangerous and push survivors out of school. It's time to tell her to keep her #HandsOffIX\u201d— Know Your IX (@Know Your IX) 1542385027
DeVos' proposed changes to how universities enforce Title IX--the federal law that bars sex-based discrimination in schools--come after she was widely condemned for scrapping less formal guidelines established under the Obama administration as well as for touting concerns about false allegations, which research shows are incredibly uncommon, after meeting with "men's rights" groups.
\u201cWe advocate for fair school disciplinary processes that uphold the rights of both parties in campus sexual assault and harassment cases.\n\nToday Secretary DeVos proposed a rule that would tip the scales against those who raise their voices.\n\nWe strongly oppose it.\u201d— ACLU (@ACLU) 1542382782
American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten charged that the "announcement of Title IX rollbacks is the latest in a troubling pattern of Secretary DeVos' efforts to dismantle the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights and turn the federal government's back on students who are suffering, vulnerable, or disenfranchised."
"This rule abdicates the responsibility to protect every student's right to safety on campus. It tells academic institutions that they needn't bother helping to protect students; they won't be liable," she added. "These changes once again demonstrate that students are not DeVos' priority."
In a series of tweets detailing what Title IX is, how the law helps survivors, and how critics of Devos' proposal can challenge it, the group End Rape on Campus issued a reminder that "we have the chance to stop [DeVos] from putting these disastrous rules into effect by participating in the notice-and-comment process."
\u201c12/ Final Q: How do I make a comment? \nA: We\u2019ve got you. Be a voice for survivors by learning how to submit at a comment at https://t.co/g7d8QaHGiQ \ud83d\udce3 #HandsOffIX\u201d— End Rape On Campus (@End Rape On Campus) 1542381623
"This draft rule is a cruel attempt to silence sexual assault survivors and limit their educational opportunity," concluded Vanita Gupta of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
"We call on all who support equal opportunity to participate in this comment process," she said, "and make clear that fundamental American values of fairness and equality will not be abandoned and that schools must provide all students an educational environment free from sex discrimination and violence."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.