Princeton Forced to Cave on Due Process
In the continuing battle to give males in college roughly the same due process rights as possessed by a black man in 1930's Alabama, my alma mater was one of the last holdouts fighting the trend. No longer:
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Education wrapped up its investigation of Princeton University's sexual harassment and assault policies. The findings were unsurprising, though still striking: the government essentially accused the university of violating federal anti-discrimination law by extending too much due process to accused students.
Princeton had been one of the last hold-outs on the standard of proof in college rape trials. The university required adjudicators to obtain "clear and convincing" proof that a student was guilty of sexual assault before convicting him. That's too tough, said DOE. As part of its settlement, Princeton is required to lower its evidence standard to "a preponderance of the evidence," which means adjudicators must convict if they are 50.1 percent persuaded by the accuser.
Princeton's old policy was also criticized by DOE for allowing accused students to appeal decisions, but not accusers. Both this practice and the evidence standard were revised under Princeton's new, DOE-compliant policy.
Note that Princeton's former policies on burden of proof and restrictions on double jeopardy roughly mirror the due process rights Americans have in every other context except when they are males accused of sexual assault on a college campus.
I wish Princeton had held out and forced the Administration to test this in court. I certainly would have donated to support the legal fund.
Matthew Slyfield:
Unfortunately, now that the Federal government for all intents and purposes has a monopoly on student loans, no University can stand up to them.
November 7, 2014, 1:27 pmCardin Drake:
This is a good example of why we don't need the Dept. of Education. They clearly don't have enough to do that is productive if they are able to focus on this. Their primary purpose anyway is to collect funds from the states, devise hoops for the states to jump through, and give some of the money back to those who are best at it. Now they have crossed the line from useless to harmful.
November 7, 2014, 4:12 pmjdgalt:
It's bound to be tested in court anyway -- by one of the victims (= convicted men) suing DOE for violating his civil rights. After all, the guy's career and reputation have been destroyed, so he has very little to lose.
But Cardin Drake is right and then some. Neither subsidizing nor regulating education (outside of DC and military bases) is among Congress's enumerated powers in the first place.
November 7, 2014, 10:00 pmDaublin:
Calling it a "due process" problem makes it sound mild and theoretical.
We're talking about imprisoning innocent men.
November 8, 2014, 1:05 pmtex:
They've crossed the line long ago. Common core is but one example.
November 8, 2014, 2:47 pmobloodyhell:
The damage done to this nation by the Boomers will take many decades to undo, if that's even possible.
I personally suspect a collapse will happen first, and what will arise from that may well be quite scary to experience.
November 8, 2014, 2:50 pmBobSykes:
Why any man, especially a white man, would go to college nowadays is beyond understanding.
November 9, 2014, 9:35 amArrian:
With so much credentialism in the workforce, you can't afford not to. Even IT helpdesks (the most entry level of entry level jobs) are requiring a 4 year degree or HR won't even pass a resume on to the hiring manager.
November 10, 2014, 8:36 amMercury:
This will not end well for Ivy League (in particular) women. They really will end up married to the government Life-of-Julia style as nuns are brides of Christ. Thanks Democrats!
An 18-22 year old guy has to be crazy to roll the dice with those rules of engagement. Eventually male undergrads will be taking public pledges after freshman orientation that they will not so much as go on a chaperoned date with a (Princeton) co-ed while an undergraduate subject to this current policy. Ever. And/or parents will make that a tuition precondition for their sons (could you legally make that a student loan covenant?).
Once critical mass is reached there I think you'll find that female undergraduates will either get the rule changed themselves or evolve into a demographic of hardened, non-heterosexuals - not exactly the ideal alumni profile for a manufacturer of human luxury products.
In the meantime, someone needs to organize that local girl community!
November 10, 2014, 8:42 pmCorky Boyd:
Note to male Princetonians, date townies.
November 10, 2014, 8:47 pm