PREPARED REMARKS by Secretary DeVos at the Independent Women’s Forum Annual Awards Gala
“Thank you, Heather Higgins, for that kind introduction…I accept this award on behalf of all women of action.
I always want the best for my children and I’ll still do anything for them. All moms do. There really is no greater job, no greater vocation, no greater calling than to be a parent. So, I took on another job to fight for America’s parents. To fight for their students. And to fight against those in education who would have government be the parent to everyone. Many in this town seem to think that they are better equipped to make decisions on behalf of parents. They insist government knows best how to educate all children. In that flawed scenario, the state replaces the family, the schoolhouse replaces the home, and the child becomes nothing more than a pawn. But government is generally not the solution to any problem. It’s generally the problem. Government has never made anything better or cheaper, more effective or more efficient. And nowhere is that more true than in education. So, we are working to dismantle the government social engineering in education, including the previous administration’s staggering overreach on Title IX. We’ve watched folks in Washington weaponize good intentions to advance their philosophies and their policies. Well, good intentions alone are not enough. Justice demands humility, prudence, and truth. And the truth is: the so-called “guidance” by the prior administration failed too many students.
Here is what we know happens: a student says he or she was sexually assaulted on campus. The accused may or may not be told of the allegations. If there is a hearing, both the accuser and the accused may or may not be allowed legal representation. Whatever evidence is presented may or may not be shown to all parties. Whatever witnesses—if even allowed to be called—may or may not be cross-examined. And government dictated that schools must use the lowest standard of proof. And now this campus official—who may or may not have any training in adjudicating sexual misconduct—is expected to render a judgement. A judgement that changes lives. It’s no wonder so many call these proceedings “kangaroo courts.” There is no place for sexual misconduct on campus—or anywhere else. These sick acts must never be swept under the rug, and we must always rise to meet the needs of survivors. But we can’t ignore bedrock American principles: justice, due process, and the rule of law.
Our proposed rule recognizes that we can continue to combat sexual misconduct without abandoning due process. It provides a menu of things schools can do to help survivors heal from trauma and continue their education. At the same time, our proposed rule requires schools to apply basic due process protections. Some mischaracterize these reforms as tilting the scales of justice, but we believe they simply balance them. Title IX, we know, has become less about equality and more about engineering. It’s become less about students and their learning, and more about students and their speech. That’s borne out in the effort to enforce ambiguous and incredibly broad definitions of assault and harassment. Too many cases involve students and faculty who faced investigation and punishment for only speaking their minds or teaching their classes. Any perceived offense can become a full-blown Title IX investigation. But if everything is harassment, then nothing is….Thank you all. May God Bless you, and may God continue to bless each and every American student.”
www.ed.gov/news/speeches-Betsy DeVos U.S. Education Secretary
