Morehouse University Title IX Lawyers
Morehouse College is one of the only private historically black liberal arts colleges for men. Its mission is to emphasize the intellectual and character development of its students so that they can become leaders worldwide. With these kinds of goals, it’s no wonder they expect their students to abide by academic and behavioral conduct rules. When a student violates these rules, Morehouse will investigate the matter and work to resolve it quickly.
The “Morehouse Man” is an academic intellectual who supports both his brothers and his teachers, working to inspire and challenge them from day one. As such, it can be incredibly overwhelming if you are accused of misconduct, especially a Title IX violation. But don’t worry; all students have the right to the advice of an attorney during the complaint and adjudication process. Working with an attorney will ensure you receive the best possible outcome for your case. Call Capovilla & Williams today.
What is Title IX
Title IX s a federal regulation that prohibits discrimination based on sex. It also outlines how schools that receive federal funding are to address complaints of sex-based discrimination. At Morehouse College, sex-based discrimination is defined as:
- Sexual or gender-based discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual assault
- Dating violence
- Domestic violence
- Stalking
- Retaliation
Additionally, Title IX makes it clear that if a school fails to follow the steps outlined when adjudicating a complaint of sex-based discrimination, the federal government can pull their financial assistance. This fear is a powerful motivator for educational institutions. Unfortunately, it also tends to work against the accused student. For instance, there have been times when schools have been so focused on following the Title IX steps for adjudication that they fail to dismiss the complaint because it has no supporting evidence or the accused student has an alibi that can be corroborated.
When this happens, the accused student is forced to endure a disciplinary process and have sanctions imposed that will affect the rest of their lives. A knowledgeable Title IX attorney can help you navigate these proceedings and mitigate any unnecessary consequences.
The Title IX Disciplinary Process
The Title IX disciplinary process begins when the Title IX Coordinator, or their office, receives a complaint against a particular student (or faculty member or employee). The Coordinator will contact the complainant to discuss the incident’s circumstances and determine if it falls under Title IX. If it does, they will have the complainant file a formal complaint. In some cases, the complainant may decide not to file the formal complaint, which gives the Coordinator the option to either dismiss the case or file the formal complaint on their own.
Once the formal complaint is filed, the Coordinator will pick a Title IX Investigator to meet with the complainant and accused student to interview them. During the interviews, the Investigator will ask both parties questions and try to understand more of what happened during the alleged incident. They will also use this opportunity to gather and question witnesses. When the investigation is complete, they will report what they learned to the Coordinator. The Coordinator will use the investigation results to determine whether the matter should be dismissed or pursued further.
If the Coordinator decides the matter should continue, they will appoint the hearing panel and schedule the hearing. At the hearing, the accused student and the complainant (or the university if the complainant dropped out) will present witness testimony and relevant evidence to try and prove their arguments. Once both sides rest their case, the hearing panel will retreat to a private space to review the information and arguments presented and determine whether they believe the student (or employee) did violate Title IX. If they find the student responsible, they will also impose specific sanctions on the student. The severity of the sanctions will depend on the severity of the conduct committed, its impact on the Complainant and the college community, and the disciplinary history of the responsible party.
It is important to remember that the hearing panel’s decision can be appealed to the Appellate Officer.
How a Knowledgeable Title IX Defense Law Firm Can Help
The attorneys at Capovilla & Williams know how hard you worked to get into Morehouse College and want to protect you from harsh or unnecessary punishments. Call 855-218-6432 today or schedule a free consultation online.