Title IX is creeping into the classroom of some American universities.

From the FIRE blog.

How the Pressures of Title IX Compliance Have Chilled My College Campus

On my first day of class this past semester, like my previous three semesters at the University of Delaware (UD), I expected to attend my classes and be given syllabi with course expectations. I did not expect to have references to Title IX on my course syllabi, warning students that any reference to sexual misconduct disclosed in class would be reported by my professors. Here is an excerpt from one course syllabus:

Please note: as a responsible employee at the University of Delaware I have reporting responsibilities under Title IX and I am required to file a report regarding any sexual misconduct that is reported to me or that is described in the classroom.

I hardly knew what Title IX was, and yet, it was dictating what I could and could not feel comfortable saying in a classroom. This prompted me to do some research.

Just over a year ago, UD—as well as over 50 other colleges and universities—were put under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The number of schools being investigated has since doubled, and over 100 institutions are currently under investigation for their handling of sexual assault cases. Publicly announcing the universities that are under investigation puts an immense amount of pressure on school administrations, which has led to universities taking excessive measures in an effort to comply with Title IX’s requirements. The warnings placed on my syllabi are a direct result of the UD administration responding to the pressures of Title IX compliance.