Judge Rejects Title IX Lawsuit Claim Against Northwestern Univ.
He cites a 1999 Supreme Court ruling in his decision.
A Title IX lawsuit against Northwestern University in an alleged sexual assault case was dismissed by a federal judge on Nov. 14. Judge Harry D. Leinenweber found Northwestern “not to be culpable under the federal gender equity law Title IX.” He says the university took “timely, reasonable, and successful measures.”
In her suit, the female student, a senior at the Medill School, charged that the university created a hostile environment by allowing Professor Peter Ludlow, who teaches philosophy, to remain on campus after the alleged February 2012 sexual assault after the two attended an art show, according to the Daily Northwestern. The student was seeking reparations for emotional distress, appropriate remedial actions, payment of past and future education and medical bills.
In his decision, Judge Leinenweber says a 1999 Supreme Court decision specifies Title IX doesn’t allow a victim of sexual harassment to request specific remedial demands. Her lawyer, Kevin O’Connor says they plan to continue to fight the case.
After an internal investigation found he violated the university’s sexual harassment policy, Ludlow was prohibited by Northwestern of having contact with the student, which he reportedly complied with. He also lost an appointment to an endowed professorship and was denied a pay raise for the 2012-13 school year. After student protests in March of 2014, Ludlow hasn’t taught on campus. He isn’t expected to be back for next semester.
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