How to Navigate life after a Title IX accusation
This is not an easy topic to write. Anyone who has been a survivor of a sexual assault on a college campus may not be fond of what I’m sharing. Please know, this comes from a place of caring about every single human being. For those who are currently in the midst of a Title IX investigation and your world has been turned upside down, know that you have resources.
First, if you haven’t connected with an Attorney you need to do so immediately, and it needs to be someone who specializes in Title IX cases. To just bring in any local Criminal Defense attorney may hurt your case in the long run. This is a mistake you cannot afford. Have a Title IX attorney lined up before speaking with University personnel. Their on-campus proceedings may present like a criminal investigation, which can feel overwhelming. Whether it be to support you with the on-campus proceedings or whether filing a lawsuit against your college or university, you will need to hire an expert. Whatever you say and whoever you’re saying it to, say it with your lawyer present.
Do not, and I repeat, do not erase anything on social media or your phone. Do not communicate directly with the person who is accusing you, whether they initiated the outreach, or you have an impulse to apologize or seek-to-understand. Anything online or on the phone can be evidence. Although you will hate to see it, and naturally want to delete their contact or messages, you must think proactively about how saving this could ultimately save you.
Know that college will still be an option moving forward. Would I recommend you remain at the same university? Probably not, and for several reasons. First, the university will probably ask you to take a break from their campus for one or semesters anyway. Secondly, you will be surrounded by people who are aware of the case and will treat you based on their own assumptions. This will impact your academics, your mental health, and your overall progress towards a degree. That is why you are in college after all, right? Hire someone who can help you navigate this process, especially if you are trying to transfer.
During all of this, you’ll want to connect with mental health care. You may not have had any pre-existing conditions prior to this, but you most certainly will now. From moving through the stages of grief, experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to spiraling into a depression that transforms in suicide ideation. These are all very real responses. Your Attorney may advise you to not speak with any individual therapist during the case, as that Therapist and their notes on your sessions could be subpoenaed. Work with your attorney to know what to do. You will also want to do some extensive research on a Therapist that can work with you. Someone who will not be biased to your situation, and is trained and well versed in trauma and grief. It may help to hire a Consultant to help you get connected to a Therapist that can truly help.
If alcohol was involved during the night in question, it may be valuable for a young adult to participate in a treatment program. By participating in a treatment program, this could be something your Attorney works out with the University. Substance abuse education can help any college student better understand what is consent, and how substances influence people cognitively, behaviorally, and physically. If going to treatment is recommended, you absolutely need to hire a Therapeutic Consultant. These are the professionals who know, inside and out, treatment programs. They know which clinical teams would be able to work with you to begin healing. Going to any local intensive outpatient program (IOP) that is insurance-driven is doing you a disservice on getting the high-caliber treatment you need.
You will live your life again, especially if you take seriously the above recommendations. You will learn to smile again, and be physically intimate with someone again, if you get connected to the above resources. In addition to linking up with an Attorney immediately, I can’t emphasize enough that the rest of the resources listed above need to be prioritized. The longer you wait to get help, the harder it’ll be to start to heal. Get connected now!
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
