‘CAJOLING’ Accused Male Withdraws His Title IX Case Against Penn State
The student who filed a lawsuit against the university regarding a sexual assault hearing dispute has withdrawn it. No reason was given in the notice of voluntary dismissal.
John Doe the student, had cited the violation of his rights to due process and equal protection during a sexual assault disciplinary prosecution. A Title IX panel initially found Doe liable of coercing Roe and suspended him from the university for one year. However, on behalf of Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Danny Shaha, a second hearing was scheduled to reexamine whether the first hearing misinterpreted coercion.
Doe alleged in the now dismissed lawsuit that a week before his second scheduled hearing, the university changed its definition of consent to find Doe guilty for a second time. Specifically, the suit said the university provided Doe with a new definition of “coercion” that included the word “cajoling.” The new definition was not found anywhere on a university website. After Doe filed the lawsuit, the second hearing was cancelled. It was set to be rescheduled, with a new date still undecided.
Doe initially sought expungement of his disciplinary file and monetary damages. He also requested Penn State reinstate him in good standing without further prosecution, or reopen the investigation. The dismissal does not make it clear if Doe reached an agreement with the university.
collegian.psu.edu-M.Aiken statecollege-A. Colucci
READ: Penn State Retroactively Redefined Consent After Accused Student Won a New Hearing
