Criminal Defense Lawyers

Harvey Mudd College Title IX Defense Lawyers

Hey there, if you’re a student at Harvey Mudd College, it‘s important to understand your rights and resources when it comes to Title IX. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, including sexual harassment and assault. Harvey Mudd takes this seriously and has policies and procedures in place to address Title IX issues. Let’s dive in and break it all down for you.

What is Title IX?

First off, what exactly is Title IX? It‘s a part of the Education Amendments of 1972 that says:“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”1Basically, it means that colleges like Harvey Mudd can’t discriminate against you based on your sex or gender. This covers things like admissions, athletics, employment, and importantly – sexual harassment and violence.1

Harvey Mudd’s Title IX Policy

So how does Harvey Mudd put Title IX into practice? They have an official policy called the Title IX Grievance Process that lays it all out. The policy prohibits sexual harassment, discrimination, assault, and other misconduct. It applies to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors.1If an incident occurs, Harvey Mudd encourages you to report it to the Title IX Coordinator. They’ll provide support, look into what happened, address any safety concerns, and take disciplinary action if needed.1

Who to Contact

Let’s talk about who you can reach out to. Harvey Mudd’s Title IX Coordinator is Danny Ledezma. You can contact him at dledezma@hmc.edu or 909-607-4015.1There are also Deputy Title IX Coordinators:

• Patrice Siffert (HR issues): psiffert@hmc.edu, 909-607-4154
• Alyssa Gee (career advising): algee@hmc.edu, 909-607-03661

These folks have special training in Title IX and can help guide you through the process. Don‘t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns, even if you’re not sure you want to file an official report.

Confidential Resources

Now, maybe you want to talk to someone confidentially without involving the Title IX office. Harvey Mudd has some great confidential resources for that:

• EmPOWER Center: Provides support for sexual assault and relationship violence. Contact Rima Shah at 909-607-2689 or RShahEmPOWER@cuc.claremont.edu4
• Monsour Counseling Center: Offers counseling and psychological services. Call 909-621-8202.4
• McAlister Center Chaplains: Available for confidential spiritual support at 909-621-8685.4

There are also some helpful community resources like the Project Sister Family Services crisis hotline (909-626-4357) and the House of Ruth domestic violence hotline (877-988-5559).4

Reporting an Incident

If you decide you do want to file a formal Title IX complaint, here’s generally how the process goes:

1. Contact the Title IX Coordinator and submit a complaint in writing or in person. You’ll be called the “complainant.”2
2. The Coordinator will reach out to the person you’re accusing (the “respondent”) and provide them the details of the complaint.2
3. Both you and the respondent will have a chance to share your side and provide evidence. You can each have an advisor to assist you.2
4. The complaint will be investigated by an impartial party. They’ll gather information and interview witnesses.2
5. A live hearing will be held where you, the respondent, and witnesses can be questioned by the advisors. The hearing officer will then make a decision based on the “preponderance of evidence” standard.2
6. If the respondent is found responsible, disciplinary action will be taken. This could include suspension, expulsion, or termination of employment.1
7. Either party can appeal the decision under certain circumstances, like procedural issues or new evidence.2

The whole process is designed to be fair, impartial, and transparent. Both parties have rights, including the right to be treated equitably, to have an advisor, to review evidence, and to be protected from retaliation.1

Supportive Measures

Even if you don’t want to file a formal complaint, Harvey Mudd can still provide you with supportive measures. These are designed to help preserve your access to education without burdening the other party.3Supportive measures can include:

• Counseling
• Extensions on class assignments
• Changes to your class or work schedule
• Campus escort services
• Mutual no-contact orders between parties
• Changes to your housing or work location
• Leaves of absence3

The Title IX Coordinator will keep these measures confidential and tailor them to your situation. You can access supportive measures whether or not you file a formal complaint.3