Faculty and student groups spent more time than ever before discussing Title IX in various training sessions this summer. The 42-year-old law protects against gender-based discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding and includes categories such as education and sexual harassment. The latter has been extensively covered in the news over the last several months as more colleges and universities — 76, as of this August— came under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for allegedly mishandling incidents of sexual misconduct.

Kenyon is not on that list, although many of our peer institutions are. The Collegian applauds the College’s efforts to educate our community on their rights and duties regarding sexual violence, and to protect their privacy when complaints arise — but we should not get extra credit just for doing our homework. 

In addition to these measures, we would like to see the awareness campaign be ongoing rather than intermittent. There should be structured conversations on the subject, and the College is due an honest and transparent look at its own history with sexual violence, which has not been innocent. After all, omission from an accused group is hardly inclusion in a blameless one.