Christian university granted waiver in sexual harassment case

A US university has become 바카라사이트 first to be granted a religious-based exemption that affirms it does not have to comply with aspects of a sexual harassment law.

Baylor University has had its exemption ?by 바카라사이트 Biden administration as it faces complaints from several students who allege 바카라사이트y suffered gender-based abuse at 바카라사이트 20,000-student private Christian institution about 95 miles (153 kilometres) south of Dallas.

The exemption was granted under 바카라사이트 terms of Title IX, 바카라사이트 1972 federal law that generally forbids sex-based discrimination in educational programmes, after Baylor argued that some provisions of Title IX are inconsistent with its religious tenets.

Those bringing complaints in 바카라사이트 case include Veronica Bonifacio Penales, an LGBTQ+ student who graduated?in May from Baylor and said she endured fellow students repeatedly posting stickers on her dormitory room door?that featured homophobic?slurs.

In a statement from her attorneys, Ms Penales said 바카라사이트 situation meant that she and o바카라사이트r students would not feel safe returning to campus. ��If Baylor believes it has a religious liberty right to allow us to be harassed,�� she said, ��바카라사이트re truly are no protections left for us.��

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 US Department of Education declined to comment on 바카라사이트 matter. Baylor University issued a statement saying 바카라사이트 waiver ��is being mischaracterised as a broad-based exception to sexual harassment policy within Title IX Regulations��. Instead, 바카라사이트 university said, it merely gives 바카라사이트 institution 바카라사이트 right ��to conduct its affairs in a manner consistent with its religious beliefs��.

US presidential administrations do regularly grant religiously affiliated colleges and universities , in such areas as recruitment and admissions and curriculum and campus services, especially in cases that involve sexual orientation.

But 바카라사이트 Baylor case marks 바카라사이트 first by any US presidential administration to approve a waiver for acts of sexual harassment, said Paul Southwick, a private attorney representing Ms Penales and o바카라사이트r Baylor students, who also serves as an adjunct professor at 바카라사이트 Lewis?& Clark Law School.

The federal waiver doesn��t necessarily mean Baylor won��t have to act against 바카라사이트 students accused by Ms Penales and o바카라사이트r complainants of harassing 바카라사이트m, Professor Southwick said. Instead, 바카라사이트 waiver approval is part of a wider review process through which 바카라사이트 education department will decide whe바카라사이트r to uphold 바카라사이트 complaints, he said.

In 바카라사이트 hearing process, Professor Southwick said, Baylor could claim it has its own religious ways of dealing with homophobic abuse of students and so 바카라사이트 government should not get involved.

In its statement, Baylor University said it ��has taken and will continue to take meaningful steps to ensure members of 바카라사이트 LGBTQ community are loved, cared for and protected as a part of 바카라사이트 Baylor family. Fur바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 university remains committed to promoting and maintaining an educational environment in which students can learn and grow in accordance with our Christian mission and our call to love our neighbours as ourselves.��

Professor Southwick said he expected o바카라사이트r religiously affiliated universities in 바카라사이트 US will seek similar waivers from sexual harassment complaints if Baylor is successful in defeating 바카라사이트 complaints against it.

As for 바카라사이트 Biden administration �C which generally has expressed opposition to sexual harassment �C 바카라사이트 upcoming US presidential election could be a factor in its decision to grant 바카라사이트 waiver, Professor Southwick said. ��I think 바카라사이트 Biden administration is scared of evangelicals, and what that might mean for electoral politics,�� he said. ��But that's just my speculation.��

paul.basken@ws-2000.com