On May 6th, the Department of Education made wide-ranging changes to the Title IX obligations of all schools receiving federal funding. These new rules, which go into effect on August 14th, contain dangerous changes that will harm victims, survivors, and victim-survivors of sexual assault, and jeopardize tens of thousands of students’ civil right to an education free from discrimination. Please sign this petition if you are a UC student or a friend or family member supporting UC students! It is critical that we pressure universities to focus on this issue now before it’s too late.

The new Title IX rule will make the following harmful changes:

• require schools to only investigate the most extreme forms of harassment and assault,
• require schools to ignore most violence that occurs off-campus,
• require live hearings and direct cross-examination of complainants and respondents by each of their chosen-though not provided-representatives, and 
• remove time limits for investigations, which could draw out already lengthy investigations.

Let’s be clear — these new changes are intended to discourage, disempower, and silence survivors of sexual violence. Currently there are 4 active lawsuits and a motion by 18 Attorneys General to block the new rule. However, if the changes are upheld by the Courts UCLA needs a plan to safeguard the civil rights of all students on campus. The Title IX rule gives schools discretion to choose how policies are implemented, which means UCLA can take concrete action now to commit to take sexual violence seriously and reduce harm for survivors.

WE CALL ON UCLA TO COMMIT TO:

1. Continuing to respond to reports and carry out existing investigations into sexual misconduct promptly, while maintaining a time limit of 60 calendar days for the completion of sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination cases (exceptions only for substantial, extenuating circumstances). The new rule makes clear that Title IX processes may continue remotely in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
2. Guaranteeing all students access to Title IX resources, regardless of where/when the violence or discrimination took place. This includes investigating otherwise not covered instances of off-campus and study abroad violence. The serious effects of violence and discrimination merit accommodations whether a student was harmed on-campus, on a study-abroad trip, or in their private apartment off-campus. 
3. Maintaining “preponderance of the evidence” over “clear and convincing” evidence in Title IX cases. A preponderance standard (when the burden of proof is met when there is a greater than 50% chance that the claim is true) is a more equitable approach.
4. Barring the use of informal resolution mechanisms, including but not limited to: mediation in cases of sexual assault, rape, relationship violence, and stalking that is an extension of such violence. It is widely agreed upon that mediation is an inappropriate and even unsafe measure in these types of situations.
5. Following the Department of Education’s rescinded 2016 guidance on protecting LGBTQ+ students in order to ensure all students have equal access to a safe learning environment, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
6. Requiring faculty and responsible employees (including Teaching Assistants) to clearly distinguish between confidential and non-confidential on-campus resources in course syllabi, when discussing on-campus resources for survivors of sexual assault or violence, and where otherwise applicable. Additionally, require responsible employees to disclose to students that they are responsible employees in syllabi or at the first meeting with students. UCLA must publicly list all employees considered a responsible employee.
7. Creating a UCLA Title IX Student Advisory Board to review UCLA-specific Title IX trainings and to advise on Title IX changes that UCLA may implement moving forward. 
8. Requiring Title IX to provide print and virtual informational materials to students, especially when they visit the office in-person. These materials should state that the Title IX office is not confidential and include a signed disclosure/informed consent form for survivors. This may be especially important for non-native English speakers who desire written materials.
9. Committing to increasing funding and providing adequate space for the CARE office, including increasing the number of CARE advocates and appointing a resource person who can advise students on the process of Title IX reporting.

We call on UCLA to issue a written public statement declaring its commitment to these nine policies by August 10, 2020. 

We are proud Bruins — students, faculty, alumni, family and friends — who believe in holding UCLA to the highest standards when it comes to student safety. With a federal government that is failing students, it is up to institutions to assume leadership by protecting our civil rights. We look forward to seeing UCLA issue a public statement in the coming days.

Signed,

UCLA Survivors and Allies

SAVE Research

UC Coalition for Reproductive Justice