A former Yale student’s defamation lawsuit challenges how higher education handles sexual assault and Title IX cases, the New York Times reports. The student, Saifullah Khan, was expelled from the university after a sexual assault allegation against him, and was later acquitted in a criminal court. Khan’s defamation lawsuit against his accuser received approval to proceed by the Connecticut Supreme Court, an unusual outcome in sexual assault cases on college campuses, where accusers are typically protected from defamation suits. Victims and advocates worry that opening accusers to cross-examination and potential defamation lawsuits will instill fear in victims and make them less likely to report assault; Khan’s supporters, however, emphasize the importance of due-process and cross-examination in college disciplinary hearings.
Michigan State University has notified head football coach Mel Tucker of their intent to terminate his contract. Tucker, who was suspended last week in light of a USA Today article detailing a sexual harassment complaint brought against him, was notified in a letter from the university that his actions violated his contract’s moral code of conduct and brought “public disrespect, contempt, or ridicule upon the university.”
Baylor University reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit brought by 15 women who sued the Christian university for mishandling of sexual assault cases in 2016, Inside Higher Ed reports. The lawsuit alleged that the university aimed to stifle reports of harassment and assault on campus and to dissuade victims from coming forward by “reminding them of the university’s code of conduct prohibiting alcohol and drug use and premarital sex.”
Stephen Kershnar, a philosophy professor at SUNY Fredonia, has been removed from teaching and campus access after making controversial remarks on a podcast about sexual assault and the age of consent. SUNY Fredonia officials reassigned Kershnar to non-student contact duties, initiating an investigation and a police search of his office. Dr. Kershnar, who has taught at the university since 1998, is now suing for the right to return, arguing that the university is restricting academic freedom by allowing public and political reactions to dictate who can teach at a public institution. The case raises questions about the balance between online discourse, campus safety, and the First Amendment rights of professors at public universities.