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

DEFENSE TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Todd Spodek

Lead Attorney & Founder

Featured on Netflix's "Inventing Anna," Todd Spodek brings decades of high-stakes criminal defense experience. His aggressive approach has secured dismissals and acquittals in cases others deemed unwinnable.

NY Bar Admitted Multi-State Licensed Federal Courts

Meet the Full Team

Legal Scenario: What Would You Do?

Scenario

You're a junior at Harvey Mudd College and you just received a notice from the Dean of Students office informing you that a Title IX complaint has been filed against you by a fellow student, alleging sexual misconduct at an off-campus party. The notice states you have 10 business days to respond and that interim restrictions, including a no-contact order and temporary suspension from your shared lab section, have already been put in place.

What steps should I take right now to protect my academic standing and my rights during this Title IX investigation?

Attorney's Answer

The most critical step is to retain an experienced Title IX defense attorney before you submit any written response or participate in any interview with the college's Title IX coordinator. Under the 2022 Title IX regulations, Harvey Mudd must provide you with written notice of the allegations, access to all evidence gathered during the investigation, and the right to have an advisor of your choice — including legal counsel — present at every meeting and hearing. Your attorney can challenge overbroad interim measures that interfere with your education, ensure investigators follow proper procedures under both federal Title IX requirements and the college's own student conduct policies, and prepare you for cross-examination during any live hearing. Do not discuss the case with anyone on campus, do not contact the complainant, and preserve all text messages, emails, and social media communications that may be relevant to your defense.

This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.

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