Contact: Gina Lauterio
Email: info@saveservices.org
Revelations of Campus ‘Inquisition’ Stir Outrage
WASHINGTON / June 2, 2015 – A recent article by a Northwestern University professor about flawed campus sexual assault policies has triggered sharp criticism and calls for reform. Professor Laura Kipnis detailed how campus policies designed to address sexual assault have deprived the accused of their due process rights. Titled “My Title IX Inquisition,” the editorial was published in the May 29 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Kipnis had published an article in February criticizing Title IX procedures, which she described as overly-intrusive and unfair. Title IX is the federal law that bans sex discrimination on college campuses.
Her article resulted in two student complaints alleging Title IX violations. Northwestern University investigators then refused to inform Kipnis of the exact nature of the allegations, denied her legal representation, and did not allow her to record conversations with investigators.
Over 10 critiques by liberal and conservative commentators have been published in the past week: http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2015/06/my-title-ix-.html
Liberal-feminist site Jezebel charged, “Title IX has gone from a law designed to protect college students from sexual misconduct and discrimination to a means by which professors are put on trial for their tweets.” http://jezebel.com/feminist-students-protest-feminist-prof-for-writing-abo-1707714321
An Independent Women’s Forum essayist asked, “I don’t understand why Northwestern pursued this bogus ‘retaliatory behavior’ complaint in the first place.” http://www.iwf.org/blog/2797302/Laura-Kipnis-Gets-Cleared–Just-Barely–in-Title-IX-Investigation-of-Her-Supposed-Sexual-Harassment#sthash.JnC3jmGP.dpuf
“Thanks to the Department of Education policies, even the most absurd accusations can now result in a full-bore investigation,” notes SAVE spokesperson Sheryle Hutter. “Lawmakers need to act now to restore due process on campus and bring an end to policies that micro-manage the most intimate sexual activities.”
Stop Abusive and Violent Environments is working to promote effective solutions to campus sexual assault: http://www.saveservices.org/