SWARTHMORE, Pa. – A former Swarthmore College student has filed a lawsuit against the school claiming that the institution violated his Title IX rights when he was expelled after an expedited sexual assault trial last spring.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff, referred to as John Doe claims he was accused of alleged sexual misconduct that took place in April 201l, followed by a consensual sexual encounter that took place the next week. His accuser reported the incident 19 months later and filed a complaint, which was closed after two months, The Swarthmore Phoenix reports.
In April 2013, a group of students filed Clery Act and Title IX complaints against the college with the U.S. Department of Education, prompting Swarthmore personnel to reopen the case, the lawsuit alleges.
Furthermore, the suit alleges that John Doe’s expulsion was a knee-jerk reaction to the negative news media the school received over the sexual assault controversy. The suit claims that in Swarthmore’s attempt to expedite the trial process, the college violated Title IX policies, as well as some of its own policies during its investigation.
John Doe requests compensatory damages and immediate re-enrollment. Additionally, the suit requests a correction in John Doe’s academic and disciplinary record.