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Headline Roundup May 6th, 2020

DeVos Announces New Rules for Campus Sexual Assault Investigations

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Secretary of Education Betsy Devos announced Wednesday new rules set to take effect in August that mandate changes to procedures for private and public universities investigating sexual assault allegations on campus. The new stipulations, which are alterations to the Title IX civil rights law, include requiring cross-examinations of alleged victims and offenders and a revised definition of sexual harassment. Most left-rated reporting focused on criticisms of the rules, which opponents say give the accused an advantage while placing sexual assault survivors at greater risk. Many right-rated outlets and voices focused on the stated goals of the rules, which purportedly seek to maintain victim protections while enhancing the rights of the accused.

Featured Coverage of this Story

From the Left
Betsy DeVos unveils rules bolstering rights of accused college rapists
Betsy DeVos unveils rules bolstering rights of accused college rapists

New York Daily News

News

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday unveiled new campus sexual assault rules that bolster the rights of accused rapists and reduce legal liabilities for colleges.

The dramatic shift — including giving accused sex attackers the right to cross-examine their alleged victims — rolls back zero tolerance policies that DeVos claims led to some students being railroaded.

“We can continue to combat sexual misconduct without abandoning our core values of fairness, presumption of innocence and due process,” she said.

Under the new rules, students on both sides must be given equal...

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From the Center
DeVos issues rules for sexual misconduct investigations in schools, bolstering protections for the accused
DeVos issues rules for sexual misconduct investigations in schools, bolstering protections for the accused

The Hill

News

On Wednesday Education Secretary Betsy DeVos issued final rules on how all schools will address allegations of sexual misconduct, securing new protections for students and faculty accused of misconduct.

The new rules modify Title IX, a 1972 law prohibiting “discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance,” narrowing the definition of sexual harassment and requiring schools to challenge evidence and cross-examine students via a live hearing, among other things detailed in the more than 2,000-page rule.

The new regulations, which take effect in August,...

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From the Center
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Issues New Title IX Rules To Protect Free Speech, Due Process for Accused Students
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Issues New Title IX Rules To Protect Free Speech, Due Process for Accused Students

Reason

Analysis

On Wednesday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos formally announced the new rules related to Title IX—the federal statute that governs sexual misconduct in schools—thus completing a process that began more than a year ago, when the government first unveiled its proposed changes.

The new rules aim to protect victims of sexual misconduct while also establishing fairer procedures for the accused. The department believes the new rules will "balance the scales of justice on campuses across America," a Department of Education spokesperson said during today's press briefing.

Justin Dillon, an attorney with...

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