In 1972, Title IX was implemented as a part of the Education Amendments of 1972, stating that no person, regardless of gender, should be discriminated against under an education program receiving federal government assistance.
In a study conducted by the National Association of Scholars, Peter Wood set out to examine the gender inequality among these gender equality enforcers. The study examined 52 institutions, which all “have Title IX Coordinators as mandated by law for all institutions receiving federal funding.”
Ironically, this mandate which seemingly advocates for gender equality is overwhelmingly represented by women. Wood found that women serve as Title IX Coordinators at 82.7 percent of the institutions; while a mere 17.3 percent of the Title IX Coordinators were men.
“Considering that the overwhelming preponderance of sexual harassment allegations are directed by women at men, the disproportion of women to men in the positions charged with interpreting and enforcing the sexual harassment rules is a legitimate concern,” Wood explained.
Wood questions whether this gender inequality emerging from Title IX will have unfair effects on male students. He claims that there is already a “system of rules and definitions jerry-rigged by the Office of Civil Rights to deny them the presumption of innocence and to minimize due process guarantees.”
The policies speak for themselves, proving that this gender inequality “undermines the principle of gender equity that is at the heart of Title IX.” It is clear that the student-conduct offices enforcing these claims misrepresent the student body as a whole.
Wood outlines the following policies at the following schools:
- University of California-Berkeley: Nancy Chu, Assistant Vice Provost/TIX Officer: “University officials are required under UCB policy to seek guidance from Nancy Chu before responding to reports of harassment that come to his/her attention.”
- Cornell University: Lynette Chappell-Williams, TIXC, associate vice president, Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity: “Oversees all [TIX] complaints and attempts to identify and address any patterns or systemic problems that arise during the review of such complaints. Is available to meet with students, as needed, and work with campus and other law enforcement officials, as necessary.”
- Bowdoin College: “Cases involving accusations of sexual misconduct by students are adjudicated by the Sexual Assault and Misconduct Board, which is chaired by Dean for Student Affairs Timothy Foster Meadow Davis, the advisor to the Student Sexual Assault and Misconduct Board.” Meadows “ is the TIXC and was formerly the director of the Women’s Resource Center.”
- Penn State: “Students may choose to take sexual misconduct complaints directly to the affirmative action office.”
- University of Nevada, Reno: Denise Cordova, TIXC, Director of the Equal Opportunity Office: ” investigates internal discrimination and sexual harassment complaints as well as conducts sexual harassment/discrimination prevention training for University faculty, staff, students, and student employees. As the [TIXC], Denise develops and presents campus-wide TIX training programs and participates in student orientation. As [Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator], Denise manages employee ADA requests for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Ali Swee is an intern at the American Journalism Center, a training program run jointly by Accuracy in Academia and its sister organization— Accuracy in Media.
If you would like to comment on this article, e-mail mal.kline@academia.org.
