Title IX, by definition, is a Federal Civil Rights Law that covers prohibited conduct and or sexual misconduct, including domestic violence, abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, and stalking. The Trump administration has made some changes to this policy.
Title IX has returned to the system in place in 2020 during Trump’s first administration. This change was not an executive order but rather an undoing of Biden’s changes. Several states filed a lawsuit, resulting in a Kentucky federal court judge vacating the Biden administration’s changes going back to the two policy systems from 2020. This happened on Jan. 9 before Trump was reinstated into office.
Under the Trump administration, Title IX only covers incidents that happen within the campus. Similar policies work alongside Title IX that protect students, like the study abroad programs and off-campus events. Another major change is that under the Biden administration, Title IX covered sexual orientation and gender identity, but again, other policies cover these that go hand-in-hand with Title IX, the two policy systems mentioned earlier.
However, few Lasell students were aware of the change and what Title IX was, and they were confused as to what would be changing.
“Honestly, I did not know much about Title IX or the fact that it was changing until my roommate explained it to me, and then I became nervous that the changes might affect me even though she said they wouldn’t,” said Lea Moon, a freshman forensic science major.
Maryrose Anthes, director of compliance, said this about what Lasell is doing to handle these changes while ensuring compliance with both state and federal law while receiving guidance from the Office of Civil Rights there will not be many changes. “But from a practical standpoint, in terms of the, you know, experience, of Lasell students, who may need to be in touch with the Title IX Office, there’s not a huge difference in terms of that.”
Haley Sherman, director of Project LASER under the Violence Against Women Grant, plans to reach out to the students through Instagram posts, partnering with Mott House, and the Safe Sex Tableing events around campus, all of which are Valentine-themed. All offices will continue to work on outreach to change situations in which students are not aware of their rights. Sherman and Anthes plan to work together to ensure Lasell students are aware of the slight changes in Title IX and that students continue to feel safe on and off campus.
For more details on the latest Title IX changes, to make a report, and any information, please contact Anthes.
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