Title IX Today - August 31, 2023

Title IX Today?is a publication by the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA). You can learn more about?becoming a?member today. Receive?Title IX Today?every Tuesday directly in your inbox by?subscribing to our newsletter. Today’s edition of Title IX Today is brought to you by Dan Fotoples, J.D., M.A.

In this week’s?issue of Title IX Today, explore multiple resolution agreements from the Department of Education and the Department of Justice, in addition to several lawsuits winding their way through the courts. This week’s issue also features?the recent Women’s World Cup, providing context to the ongoing larger struggle to achieve sex equity in our society. Finally, don’t miss an opportunity to explore how laws on NIL (name, image, and likeness) may impact Title IX.

CMS under federal investigation for sexual harassment, retaliation allegations, database?shows

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district is under four Title IX investigations. Two of the investigations are cases based on sexual harassment, while the others are based on procedural requirements and retaliation.

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announces resolution of sexual assault and disability discrimination investigation of Pflugerville Independent School District in Texas

OCR announced that the Pflugerville Independent School District in Texas entered into a resolution agreement to address the district’s handling of a sexual assault case and to ensure compliance with Title IX. ?

ACLU of Texas files federal complaints against DFW area schools for anti-LGBTQ+ policies

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas filed federal civil rights complaints Thursday against a fine arts public charter school in Fort Worth and a Fort Worth-area school district for adopting anti-LGBTQ+ policies. ?

Video: Supreme Court asked to hear high school admissions discrimination case

A group of parents accusing a top Virginia high school of racially discriminating against Asian American students is asking the Supreme Court to weigh in.

ATIXA’s OCR Resolution Agreement Webinar: A Members-Only Event

Join our free members-only webinar to discuss five recently published OCR Resolution Agreements. Hear directly from Catherine Lhamon, J.D., Assistant Secretary of the Office for Civil Rights, and the OCR Investigators who completed these reviews.

Register Today

After spotlight on sexual misconduct at CSUs, Valley campuses try to meet accountability

After the CSU chancellor’s public resignation last year over accusations of mishandling sexual harassment complaints, the university system hired a law firm to assess every Title IX office in the CSU system.

FIRE sues to stop California from forcing professors to teach DEI

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed a lawsuit on behalf of six California community college professors to halt new?systemwide regulations forcing professors to espouse and teach?diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Pacific University faces nearly $4 million payout following lawsuit

The university may have to pay a former student millions after suspending him three years ago?following allegations of sexual and physical assault made by another student.

Justice Department secures Title IX agreement addressing campus sexual assault and harassment with Case Western Reserve University

The?Justice Department announced an agreement with CWRU in Cleveland, Ohio, to resolve a federal investigation under Title IX?into the university’s response to complaints of student-on-student and employee-on-student sexual harassment.?

New ABA President Smith backs ‘free speech’ at law schools

The American Bar Association?has proposed new guidelines that would urge law schools to develop freedom of expression policies and address “disruptive conduct.”

Diversity Chief at U. of South Carolina has ‘Diversity’ stripped from his title

The vice president’s previous title, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is now Access, Civil Rights, and Community Engagement. The university also changed its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Division of Access, Civil Rights, and Community Engagement.

Don’t Let the Title IX Regs Release Date Be a Barrier to Your Barrier Analysis (Part Two)

Enhancing Reporting Processes Without Fostering a Perception of Escalating Incidents

Last week,?Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., shared that when it comes to barrier analysis,?if you build it, they will come. This week, he dives deeply into?preparing your community to understand that an increase in reporting is not notably correlated with an increase in incidents.?

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Women’s soccer took one small step toward equity this World Cup. But giant leaps remain

The steps toward equity will need to pick up momentum if FIFA is to reach its stated goal of equal pay by 2026-27. FIFA set a $152 million U.S. prize fund for this year’s women's tournament?– a small fraction of last year's $440 million pool for the men’s World Cup.

Title IX concerns mount as more schools work closely with NIL collectives

Concerns mount as many institutions test the boundaries of their relationship with school-affiliated NIL collectives. Schools are evading Title IX responsibilities as their affiliated collectives distribute an overwhelming majority of dollars to male athletes.

Study reveals persistent sexism toward women serving in U.S. Army Special Operations Forces

One?finding was that “nearly all female soldiers” in ARSOF are equipped with poor-fitting body armor – an issue that has plagued female service members for years – resulting in many purchasing their own.

New study shows algorithms promote gender bias and that consumers cooperate

Algorithms pick up biases since they exist in?human language, but to what extent is this happening, and what are the consequences? The new study indicates a greater need for proactive work to minimize gender bias in algorithms that serve consumer ads and recommendations.