In a long overdue remedy to an assault to our legal system, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is overhauling the draconian measures instituted under Barack Obama relating to sexual assault on campuses. The Obama directives, rooted in militant feminism which finds male rapists hiding behind every tree and lurking in every corner, are an affront to our legal system turning our universities and colleges into kangaroo courts which assume all accusations are true reversing the foundation of the American justice system…innocent until proven guilty. Not only are accused males assumed to be guilty, even if they prove they are not guilty the universities are directed to keep investigating until they can get the male on something.
In the process, this politically correct solution to a perceived problem has destroyed lives and reputations while imposing severe financial hardship on those attempting a defense against the accusations where a defense is not allowed. Nobody denies there is a problem. But the figures used to justify these draconian solutions are about as reliable as the weather. As in all things Progressive, the desired politically correct end justifies whatever means to achieve that end…oftentimes offering absurd solutions such as requiring students who are kissing to get written permission first. The end result is the trivialization of the primary issue.
Make no mistake, sexual assault is a serious issue. But the fact of the matter is our universities are there to educate people…not criminally prosecute people or make judgments of guilt or innocence without a judge, a jury, and constitutional protections. That is what the courts are for. If the universities are made aware of a sexual assault, the university should immediately bring the matter to the police and local prosecutors, cooperate in any investigation, then step back. It is NOT their province to determine guilt or innocence.
Candace Jackson, one of DeVos’ assistants, made the comment that 90% of these cases were he said/she said cases involving copious amounts of alcohol while both parties were close to being passed out drunk, or after breakups when the girl has second thoughts and comes forward 6 months later. Ms. Jackson was forced to retract those statements because too many people found them offensive.
I would not have retracted those statements. That scenario plays out over and over again in the news. By ignoring the relationship between alcohol and drug abuse and campus sexual assault, universities are doing both young women and young men a disservice. If there is any role universities should play, it should be in awareness of the problem and rigorous enforcement of campus alcohol and drug policies…all done in cooperation with local law enforcement authorities. They should also continue to require sexual assault awareness curriculum requirements with an emphasis on personal responsibility for one’s actions…both male and female.
Finally, it should be noted that universities themselves are looking for relief. The universities find themselves between a rock and a hard place. If they don’t follow the draconian Title IX regulations, the government shuts off the money. The flip side is by following those regulations, they are opening themselves up to lawsuits from those wrongly accused and then railroaded. Ask Duke University and the University of Virginia.
No male who assaults a woman should walk away free. But I have seen too much to know that false accusations about rape, sexual assault, and abuse by women is a problem whether the politically correct types want to admit it nor not. Two wrongs don’t make a right. That is why we have a criminal justice system…to find out the truth. That is where these issues should be resolved.