Schakowsky Statement on Betsy Devos' announcement on Title IX

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced plans to undo the Obama-era Title IX guidance on sexual assault on college campuses:

"In August, I joined 49 of my House and Senate colleagues in sending a letter demanding that Secretary DeVos appoint a qualified candidate to run the Department's Office for Civil Rights, replacing Acting Assistant Secretary Candice Jackson. Earlier, Jackson had made unbelievably inflammatory and insulting statements regarding victims of sexual assault on campus, saying that ‘90% of sexual assault accusations on college campuses fall into the category of "we were both drunk"'.

"Now, instead of righting the wrong made by Candice Jackson, Secretary DeVos has decided to turn Jackson's dismissive and shameful words into Department policy. By rolling back President Obama's Title IX guidance on how universities should deal with incidents of sexual assault, Secretary DeVos is targeting survivors and instilling a culture of fear in campuses across America. The Obama-era guidance was a step in the right direction. We should be building on it and finding new and better ways to support survivors, not victim-blaming and trivializing the issue. Sexual assault on campus is a scourge that needs to end – rolling back protections is a sharp betrayal of America's students."