SADDLEBACK PLANS To Appeal Ruling Favorable To Autistic Student Punished For Giving Fist Bumps
Saddleback College plans to appeal a recent judge’s decision that required the school to remove sexual misconduct marks from an autistic student’s record. Toni Airaksinen, who has followed the case of the student, Marcus Knight, reported on Twitter last week that a spokesperson for Saddleback told her the school plans to “appeal” the decision. “UPDATE: Marcus Knight’s fight against his Title IX sanctions IS NOT OVER. The college’s spokesperson just informed me that the school plans to “appeal” the court’s decision,” Airaksinen tweeted. “The Title IX marks are STILL on Marcus’s record.”
Knight was suspended and was supposed to be given a hearing where he could defend himself against the accusations, but the school cancelled the hearing after one of the accusers refused to testify and didn’t show up to the hearing. It is unclear if any of the other women planned to attend. Knight was unable to offer his side of the story, and had multiple Title IX marks placed on his permanent record. He was allowed to return to school, but must be accompanied by an assistant, who Aurora said is very helpful. Airaksinen previously reported exclusively that a court had required the college to remove Title IX marks from Knight’s record. “The Court… hereby concludes that the findings and sanctions issued by Respondents against [Marcus Knight] should be set aside.” Appeals are certainly not uncommon in cases such as these, but Knight’s mother, Aurora, questioned why the school is so determined “to get” her son.
“I can’t believe it. They are really out to destroy my son!!”
dailywire– Ashe Schow
