When most people think about Title IX, their minds go to women’s athletics. It’s the aspect of the law that is most often highlighted, ensuring equal opportunities in sports for women in educational institutions. However, there’s another critically important part of Title IX that deserves just as much attention: This law also serves as a powerful tool to protect victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment on college campuses.
The language of Title IX extends to any entity accepting federal funds for education, making it a significant shield for individuals across various educational institutions. Title IX empowers victims of sexual crimes, giving them a platform to tell their stories and reclaim the power and dignity taken from them.
Despite mandatory training programs on these very issues at many colleges, the statistics are alarming. More than one in four women and over one in twenty men experience some form of sexual assault while attending college in the United States. The protections offered by Title IX are crucial for these individuals, offering a path to justice and support.
Defining Sexual Assault and Consent
There are a number of different organizations and dictionaries that attempt to define sexual assault, but if we look at just about any college or university website you will also find definitions. Most of them use similar language.
We looked at Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee Knoxville for examples. Here is what we found:
MTSU defines sexual assault as “any act of sexual contact without consent or without legal consent.”
UT defines sexual assault with slightly more detail, saying it is “any sexual act directed against another person, without consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.”
Both definitions require an understanding of consent. Consent, as a term, has become more popular in recent years as people take power over their own choices and define boundaries around actions and experiences. Consent is simply defined as giving express permission for an act to take place. The key element to remember, though, is that nothing short of actually expressing consent outwardly can be considered actual consent. The absence of rejection does not constitute the existence of consent.
Steps to Take When Experiencing Sexual Violence on a College Campus
No one should ever have to experience sexual violence, especially in a place of learning and growth like a college campus. At Hunter Law Firm, we would rather see a world where our services in Title IX cases are no longer needed. Unfortunately, the reality is that these incidents continue, as evidenced by the statistics mentioned earlier. When it does, victims must have the resources and information they need to seek justice.
After seeking medical attention and speaking with police, the first step for anyone who has experienced sexual violence on campus is to report the incident to the university. Most colleges have a designated person or department to handle such reports, but any university official should be able to point you in the right direction for the resources you need. Many universities have protections that may extend beyond what Title IX offers, so you should review your university handbook to determine what options are available.
However, there are times when university protections may fall short, or officials may fail to fulfill their duties in safeguarding students and staff. In these cases, universities expose themselves to potential Title IX litigation. Remember, even if the university is conducting its own investigation, you still have the right to pursue criminal charges by contacting the police. Additionally, Title IX protections extend beyond campus, meaning if a relationship or interaction originated on campus and involves people who work or live on campus then the protections will remain in place.
Title IX Civil Litigation With Hunter Law Firm
People experience sexual assault on college campuses regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other identifying factor. Ultimately, predators come in many different forms and target different types of victims. We never want to scare anyone, but we do want people to be aware of the risks and options when things go wrong on college campuses.
We handle difficult Title IX cases because we believe everyone has a right to tell their story and defend themselves. Contact Hunter Law Firm to Tell Your Story and pursue justice. We work alongside victims as you go through the university process as well as setting the stage for pursuing civil litigation against your attacker as well as the university and any officials who failed to do their part to protect them.
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- How Title IX Protects Students and Staff on College Campuses - September 16, 2024
