I’ve been holding back from commenting on Title IX issues for the last couple years, because I am far from an expert. But today, I’m setting aside trying to be an expert and just talking about why, personally as a rape survivor, I’m seriously concerned about the new guidelines.
TW: sexual assault for a lot of this thread.
In 2014, I was raped. It happened in broad daylight during a tailgate party by a fellow student. It was extremely violent. When I ran onto the street, a fellow student told me I needed to go to the hospital. I called 911.
In 2014, I was raped. It happened in broad daylight during a tailgate party by a fellow student. It was extremely violent. When I ran onto the street, a fellow student told me I needed to go to the hospital. I called 911.
Without going into my whole story (although there’s a lot more information out there if you want it), reporting to the police did not go well. Responding officers rolled their eyes at me, and after hearing me describe how I had begged for my life, said I “should’ve just said no”.
The detective who interviewed me in the emergency room heard about my injuries after my forensic exam and excused it by saying “kids are into some pretty kinky shit these days”. A few days later, he accused me of lying and released my rapist from jail.
Not all survivors want to report to police. Far from it. I had been assaulted & abused before, and I had never wanted to go to court. And that’s okay. But this time, I was terrified. It wasn’t like anything I had experienced before. But the police didn’t care.
This left me with one option: Title IX. I had heard awful things and didn’t want to do it, but it was my only option. Luckily, I was one of the few at the time who had no problems. He was investigated by TIX and expelled. The investigation was very retraumatizing, but it worked.
Not only did the Title IX investigation mean that I never had to have classes with my rapist again or walk past him on campus, but it was eventually the reason that he was criminally charged. Without the additional evidence they obtained, I doubt he would be in prison right now.
Under the new guidance, none of this would have ever happened. My rapist - a serial rapist - would have remained on campus. I was raped off-campus in a non-university building, which is no longer covered under Title IX regulations.
Not only that, but universities are no longer required to do their investigation in 60 days. AND they can delay their investigation if a criminal case is ongoing, which forces survivors to remain in school with their perpetrator while police investigate. Which can go on for years
There are other issues w/ the guidance I’m not qualified to speak on. But I can say that if this guidance had been in place when I was a student, my life would be drastically different. I would never have graduated. I would not have gotten sober. I don’t know if I would be alive.
You can read this and say it’s dramatic, but guess what? It should be. Sexual assault is severely traumatic. Victims need to be supported and protected, instead of having to choose between their mental health and their education. /End
