In September, the Temple University group Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) announced their campaign to try to remove the name Patrick O’Connor, lawyer for Bill Cosby, from one of the university plazas as well as oust him from his role as chairman of the Board of Trustees. FMLA is affiliated with the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Feminist Campus program.
Senators Urge DeVos and Department of Education to Maintain Title IX Guidelines
Twenty-nine U.S. Senators have signed onto an open letter urging Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education to keep the current Title IX guidelines on campus sexual assault. On September 7, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that she is working to replace the current Title IX guidelines that address campus sexual […]
Deadline Extended to Submit Comments to Department of Education
In June, the Department of Education opened a comment period for the public to provide input on whether the Department of Education should keep, modify, or eliminate rules that protect the civil rights of students of color, women, students with disabilities, pregnant or parenting students, immigrant students, LGBTQ students, and other groups affected by civil […]
Yale University Changes College Name to Honor Grace Murray Hopper
Yale University recently announced that Calhoun College, named after Yale graduate John C. Calhoun, a fierce defender of slavery throughout his lifetime, will be renamed for the fall 2017 semester. The University intends to rename the college in honor of Yale graduate Grace Murray Hopper, an American computer scientist, mathematician, professor, and United States Navy […]
DeVos Attacks Title IX Campus Sexual Assault Guidelines
In an announcement at the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that she is working to replace Title IX protections for survivors of gender based violence and sexual assault. In her speech, DeVos criticized the guidance put in place under the Obama administration in the Dear […]
Court Rules 16 Year Old Recruit Not Protected Under Title IX
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a 16 year old girl who was sexually assaulted while on a college recruitment overnight does not have grounds to sue the university under Title IX because at the time of her assault she was not a student enrolled at the school.
DeVos Meets with Men’s Rights Activists Trying to Dismantle Title IX
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos met for 90 minutes with survivors of campus sexual assault last week, and then went on to a meeting with men’s rights activists to discuss dismantling Title IX enforcement guidelines that combat campus sexual assault. The men meeting with DeVos claim to be victims of false accusations of campus assault.
Feminist Protest Pressure Trump Administration to Grant Afghan Girls Robotics Team Visas
The Department of Homeland Security has issued humanitarian paroles to the Afghan all-girls robotics team that had been previously denied State Department visas to come to Washington DC for an international robotics competition. The girls have now arrived in the United States for ten days to compete in the FIRST Global Challenge.
Title IX Complaint Filed Over School’s Refusal to Start Girls Football Team
“For girls who are afraid to play football or don’t feel like it’s the type of things that they should do, I think it’s time for us to be trailblazers and take away the stereotype that girls can’t play football,” Sam said.
After 45 Years of Title IX, Advocates Hold Briefing on Law’s Successes and Failures
Last week, Title IX – the 1972 legal provision which prevents sex and gender-based discrimination in education – turned 45 years old. In honor of the anniversary, feminist groups briefed Congress on the victories Title IX has won, as well as the ways in which the law continues to fall short.
Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Wisconsin Transgender Student
Last week the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Wisconsin school district violated Ash Whitaker’s civil rights when they prevented the transgender student from using the boys’ bathroom. The court ruled that Whitaker’s civil rights are protected under the sex discrimination ban in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Feminist Majority Foundations Sues University of Mary Washington For Title IX Violation
The university’s administration, including President Hurley, was aware of the over 700 “Yaks”, many of which directly threatened the women with physical harm, including rape, and yet failed to take any action to enforce Title IX and ensure the women’s safety, citing misguided First Amendment concerns.
Advocates Demand DeVos Respect Title IX
On Friday, advocates and survivors of sexual assault went to the Department of Education to demand that Secretary DeVos listen to their concerns about the continuation and enforcement of Title IX, which promises freedom from sex discrimination in order to achieve equal access to education.
New Report Details Trouble With California’s Charter Schools
A report released this month by the research and policy center In The Public Interest details the educational shortcomings and financial wastes of California’s charter school industry, a warning to other states, and the federal government, considering implementing similar policies.
American University of Afghanistan Has Reopened Following Terrorist Attack
The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) in Kabul has recently reopened after being close for seven months following a terror attack that left at least thirteen dead including seven students and one professor.
Afghanistan’s First Female Orchestra
Named after a Persian literature goddess of music, the orchestra’s founder, Ahmed Naser Sarmast, hopes they can help revive Afghanistan’s rich musical tradition that has been muted after decades of war.
Supreme Court Sends Transgender Rights Case Back to Lower Court
On Monday the Supreme Court announced that they will no longer hear the case of transgender student Gavin Grimm, sending the case back to the appeal’s court for further consideration in light of the Trump administration’s rescinding of Title IX protections for transgender students.
Trump Rescinds Obama Administration Protections for Transgender Students
In a joint letter from the Department of Justice and Department of Education, the Trump administration claimed that the Obama administration had not sought proper legal analysis or provided appropriate explanation for why these protections were guaranteed under Title IX.
Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Education
“This is the first time in American history that a Vice President has ever had make a tie-breaking vote to confirm a Cabinet nominee, showing just how weak DeVos’ position really is,” said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation. “Every single Senator who voted “Yes” is personally responsible for the deciding vote, and those of us concerned with equity in education will not soon forget it.”
Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for Betsy Devos
Betsy DeVos’ Senate confirmation hearing to serve as secretary of the Department of Education (ED) was held Tuesday evening, as DeVos was questioned on issues ranging from guns in schools to the privatization of public education.
