WEEKEND EDITION / VOLUME 90 / ISSUE 51 / NOV. 19, 2015
TITLE HISTORY OF TITLE
S E X U A L H A R A S S M E N T WOMEN IN SPORTS MANDATORY TRAINING
GENDER EQUITY
STUDENT PARENTS
NO PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES SHALL, ON THE BASIS OF SEX, BE EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION IN, BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF, OR BE SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION UNDER ANY EDUCATION PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. — TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972
POLICY ATTEMPTS TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUITY ON CAMPUS By EASTON WOLLNEY
T
Staff Writer
itle IX has been in place for more than 40 years, with the goal of eliminating gender-based discrimination from federally-funded educational institutions, but it has recently shifted focus to also include sexual misconduct. Amy Murphy, dean of students at Texas Tech, said the shift began in the early 2000s, and in 2011, the federal government and Office for Civil Rights gave colleges and universities additional guidance about what Title
IX means for educational institutions. “What they told us specifically, or reminded us specifically,” Murphy said, “is any form of sexual harassment could potentially be gender based discrimination, and they talk specifically about sexual assault.” In 2011, Murphy said, the Office for Civil Rights sent out a dear colleague letter to colleges and universities to help clarify and explain the renewed focus on Title IX and how it looks operationalized on a college campus. In the past, educational institutions may have wondered how to handle sexual harassment that
happened off campus, Murphy said. “The dear colleague letter helped explain that, well yes, of course we want to encourage reports to the police, and of course that’s a criminal act but we also have obligations too,” she said. Tech provides victims with resources such as providing different living arrangements or class schedules and counseling, Murphy said, and has two Title IX investigators on campus who are able to take student statements and investigate reports. The government indicated to colleges and universities that their previous processes when dealing
with sexual misconduct may not have been fair or equitable for the complaining party, she said, and both parties should be able to receive equal opportunities during an investigation. Judi Henry, the Title IX athletics coordinator on campus, said in the past, Title IX was often associated with women in educational institutions being able to have the same opportunities as men in sports before the recent shift. This includes equal transportation, uniforms and facilities, Henry said. Effective bystander reporting is
important in making sure we have a safe and fair campus, she said. “I think to me, the part that’s been missing for many years is the bystander part,” Henry said. “So that if you are a friend, or not even a friend, and you see something that’s not going the right direction that you have the courage to know what to do.” Education is a large part of understanding sexual misconduct and what to do in certain scenarios, Henry said, which can happen on the student or the employee level.
SEE TITLE IX, PG. 5