Raimondo Criticizes Sec. DeVos’ Proposed Title IX Changes

Raimondo Criticizes Sec. DeVos’ Proposed Title IX Changes

Governor Gina Raimondo is blasting U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s proposed changes to Title IX.

RI's letter opposes changes and says, "The state of Rhode Island is committed to fostering an environment of safety, empowerment, protection, and affirmative consent for our postsecondary students. The proposed changes to Title IX regulations [...] undermine these fundamental commitments."

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"Rhode Island takes protecting our students seriously. In order for our educational institutions to prepare and inspire people for successful careers and lives, we must ensure that students are safe and supported. Secretary DeVos's proposed revisions to Title IX would move Rhode Island and the country in the wrong direction. So much progress has been made over the last decades in how college campuses handle sexual assault and support victims. We refuse to go backwards,” said Raimondo in a letter to DeVos.

Read the Letter Here

Raimondo’s letter comes as part of a public comment period, which is set to end at midnight on Wednesday, January 30.

The Letter

The letter issued by Raimondo and Postsecondary Education Commissioner Brenda Dann-Messier cites eight provisions in the proposed changes to the regulations that the Governor and Commissioner say would create unnecessary obstacles to implementing Title IX protections.

The eight provisions are:

1. Narrowing the definition of sexual harassment

2. Limiting to whom on campus a victim may report sexual assault or harassment 

3. Limiting the responsibility of an institution to conduct a Title IX investigation based on the location where it occurred

4. Allowing for live cross-examination of the victim by the accused through representatives

5. Permitting institutions of higher education to determine their own standards of evidence in cases of sexual assault or harassment

6. Removing the requirement that an institution complete its investigation of alleged incidents in a timely manner 

7. Allowing institutions to choose to implement an appeals process only for accused students but not for victims 

8. Permitting institutions to opt for an informal resolution such as mediation in incidents of sexual assault or harassment