Tuesday, June 23, 2015
More than Fun and Games: Title Nine
Over forty years ago the U.S. government passed Title Nine,
a law passed to prevent discrimination on the bias of sex in schools receiving
federal funding. Historically Title Nine
has been known for its impacts on athletic departments within the U.S. educational
system, however this is only a small part of its legal reach. Specifically,
Title Nine addresses 8 other key areas: Access to Higher Education, Career
Education, Education for Pregnant and Parenting Students, Employment, Learning
Environment, Math and Science, Sexual Harassment, Standardized Testing and
Technology.
Today Title IX has become a rallying point for student
activists working to end sexual assault on their college campuses.
In response to the epidemic of campus sexual assault, in
2013 the group Know Your IX was founded. The organization, which advocates for the
civil right to an education free from sexual violence and harassment, is a “national
survivor-run, student-driven campaign to end campus sexual violence.” They work to do this through three major
avenues: educating students about title nine, pushing for policies that better
enforce title nine, and providing students with a space to engage in activism.
To learn more about Know Your Nine please see their website:
Knowyourix.org
