This past Friday, an article came out that highlights the recent ATIXA Position Statement on trauma-informed. Titled "Title IX professionals warn colleges to be wary of ‘trauma-informed’ ideology," the article reveals the reasons for ATIXA's hard-hitting statement:

“In this case, our trainings were not producing the desired effect, as other trainings were counter-manding the content we were offering,” the veteran Title IX consultant said. “Several cases on our desk, plus the Syracuse case ruling on the motion to dismiss, were catalysts to release a statement.”

Sokolow was referring to a May court ruling that allowed a Title IX lawsuit against Syracuse University to continue. The Syracuse conduct board received trauma-informed training that led it to see an accuser’s inconsistent and contradictory statements as evidence of a “traumatic event” like she described.

The court said this training, which is mandated by New York law, is plausible evidence of gender bias. The parties settled a week after ATIXA released its statement.

One of the most remarkable parts of the article was this claim by ATIXA head Brett Sokolow: ATIXA believed that due process was important but “we assumed members were getting solid due process training content elsewhere.” 

This statement came as somewhat of a revelation to those who have watched ATIXA downplay the importance of due process over the past 8 years. 

The entire article is attached to this Update.