Clark University is currently facing a lawsuit over its handling of a sexual exploitation case reported by a student.
Identified in court records as John Doe, an undergraduate student who was accused of removing a condom during intercourse with a sophomore in September 2018, Doe is suing the university for gender-based discrimination, MassLive reported.
The lawsuit alleges the school of exhibiting bias against male students when it comes to investigating complaints of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Doe has accused the school of blocking his access to the contents of the complaint against him, to a complete record of the complaint, to the right to question an accuser, and to the right of representation on the judging panel by peers of the accused.
“The procedure by which her claim was adjudicated, the outcome, and the sanctions reflect gender bias of Clark and its agents against the rights of males accused of sexual misconduct,” the lawsuit reads.
“As a result plaintiff has been and continues to be deprived of equal access to educational opportunity at Clark and is facing grievous harm to his reputation and his future education and career prospects.”
Following the investigation, administrators banned Doe from campus leadership positions for one year, prohibited Doe from contacting his accused, and required him to complete remedial training sessions.
The lawsuit also alleged the school of exhibiting a gender bias while dealing with a similar complaint in 2015, in which a freshman accused of sexual misconduct was expelled without an investigation.
Doe is currently seeking an unspecified compensation in damages including attorney fees and a permanent injunction on the findings of the school led investigation.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Education proposed amendments to Title IX rules, requiring institutions to respond and investigate every complaint of sexual harassment.
More Protection for Accused and Colleges Under New Sexual Assault Rules
