On May 6th, 2020, Betsy DeVos made several detrimental changes to Title IX that will allow schools to sweep sexual violence and necessary actions under the rug. Some examples of these changes are:

1. Schools are required to dismiss complaints of sexual misconduct that occurred outside of campus-controlled buildings or educational facilities.
2. Schools can only investigate the most severe cases of sexual harassment instead of stopping the violence before a survivor is pushed out of school.
3. Mediation is allowed in cases of any form of sexual violence for student-on-student misconduct.  Additionally, cross-examination is allowed by the “representative of each party’s choosing”.

These are only some of the examples of the changes that have been made. We are asking BVSD to maintain the integrity of the original Title IX legislation to protect the livelihood of survivors. Please join us in the #HandsOffIX movement by signing this local petition and sharing your own concerns and goals with BVSD. Linked below is an open letter that we will be sending to the BVSD school board explaining the harmful effects of this new legislation and our demands to protect the community:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YgxhVgZCUiWOK3nSiEAOgOx5upt5As-EXeHzpsc4vTw/edit?usp=sharing