In 2015, Whitman College commissioned an external review of its Title IX policies and procedures to assess how effectively it was handling complaints of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment. The review, obtained by The Wire, was conducted by a team of experts from peer institutions and came after increasing concerns within the campus community about the college’s ability to properly respond to such incidents and provide justice for its victims. The Title IX review team, comprising experts from the University of Dayton, Carleton College and Kalamazoo College, undertook a thorough evaluation of Whitman’s grievance procedures, education programs and prevention strategies. As part of the assessment, the team visited the campus in March 2016 to consult with students, faculty and staff, and thoroughly evaluate the college’s grievance procedures, prevention programs and overall Title IX framework. The results were both revealing and critical, shedding light on gaps in Whitman’s efforts to support survivors and ensure a fair, efficient process for all parties involved.
While the review acknowledged strengths such as Whitman’s clear written grievance policy and initial prevention efforts, it primarily underscored significant systemic shortcomings. These included a lack of transparency, inefficiencies in the investigative process, insufficient support for survivors and gaps in prevention programs beyond first-year students. The review concluded that these weaknesses have directly impeded the effectiveness of Title IX at Whitman, disproportionately impacting survivors of assault and harassment on campus. The findings called attention to a lack of transparency, conflicts of interest and a need for greater resources to fully address sexual misconduct on campus. They also found that the college needed to rectify inefficiencies in the investigative process, the lack of transparency in Title IX procedures, insufficient support structures for both survivors and respondents and the inequities in prevention programs to truly fulfill its legal and ethical obligations to students and staff.
The review team conducted interviews with students, faculty and staff and assessed the institution’s self-study of its Title IX framework. The review found that while Whitman College has well-documented Title IX policies that align with federal guidelines, systemic challenges in implementation have hindered the college’s ability to translate these policies into effective action. One of the issues identified in the review was the complexity of Whitman’s Title IX processes. The college’s investigative model was noted for its thoroughness, but the review also highlighted that its multilayered structure often led to confusion and frustration among participants, who struggled to navigate the complex and prolonged process. Survivors, respondents and those involved in the adjudication process reported difficulties understanding the procedures and timelines as stated on page five of the external report – “This robust process, however, can be confusing, is multi-layered and may take too much time”. Flowcharts meant to clarify the process were underutilized, leaving many uncertain about their rights and the progression of their cases.
The length of investigations also emerged as a significant problem. Investigations often dragged on due to the iterative nature of Whitman’s approach, where multiple committees and individuals reviewed the same evidence at different stages. Further, as conjectured by the other articles on this issue, many victims were intentionally made to go through a long process, to avoid having affluent and full-pay perpetrators (kindly refer to Issue 10’s article on survivor stories) being held accountable immediately. This exhaustive process has many times delayed resolution, exacerbating the trauma experienced by survivors and discouraging others from coming forward and reporting.
The review team also criticized the dual roles held by key Title IX personnel, particularly Barbara Maxwell, who at that point served both as the Victim’s Advocate and the Greek Advisor. The combination of these roles, the reviewers noted, created inherent conflicts of interest, particularly in cases involving fraternity members. Survivors felt reluctant to seek support after knowing their advocate had ties to Greek life. The team strongly recommended separating these roles to ensure survivors feel safe and supported when accessing resources. However, Maxwell continued to hold both roles for a couple of years after the review, until she left Whitman in 2020.
The review recognized Whitman’s implementation of the Green Dot program, a nationally “acclaimed” bystander intervention initiative. However, it noted that the college’s efforts were largely limited to first-year students, leaving upperclassmen without adequate ongoing training. The lack of targeted programming for sophomores, juniors and seniors – particularly those in Greek life, who were identified as frequent participants in misconduct cases – was flagged as a significant oversight.
The role of alcohol in sexual violence was another area where Whitman’s approach fell short. The review highlighted the institution’s reluctance to address alcohol as a risk factor for both victimization and perpetration. While the reviewers acknowledged the need to avoid victim-blaming, they emphasized that failing to discuss alcohol’s role limits the effectiveness of prevention efforts. They suggested that addressing the culture of alcohol consumption, especially within the Greek system, was essential to reducing the incidence of sexual misconduct. The report states:
“Until Whitman deals directly with the alcohol culture at play, especially the alcohol culture that is organized by the Greek system, the College is limiting itself to tools that are not appropriate for the job.”
This underscores the central role of alcohol in incidents of sexual misconduct, both as a risk factor for victimization and as a contributor to perpetuation. The review also noted:
“The data, across the board, are absolutely clear: intoxicated people are over-represented in every negative context – as perpetrators and as victims.”
Support for survivors emerged as one of the most troubling aspects of the review. The review team recommended appointing a dedicated Respondent Advocate to ensure all participants receive adequate support. However, Whitman still does not have a designated Respondent Advocate for Title IX cases.
Further compounding these issues was a structural inequity in the standards used to adjudicate cases involving faculty versus students and staff. The review revealed that faculty accused of sexual misconduct were held to a higher evidentiary standard – “clear and convincing evidence” – when facing potential dismissal, while students and staff were adjudicated under the lower “preponderance of evidence” standard. This discrepancy, the reviewers warned, created a perception of bias and unfairness, potentially undermining trust in the process.
The report also pointed to the need for increased resources to support Title IX efforts. While Whitman had recently allocated an additional $60,000 to its Title IX budget, the reviewers argued this was insufficient to address the demands of the program. They recommended hiring a full-time investigator to alleviate the burden on faculty and staff who currently juggle investigative duties alongside their primary responsibilities. Without dedicated personnel, the quality and consistency of investigations remain at risk. Currently, the Title IX office at Whitman College is part of the broader Division of Inclusive Excellence, but specific budget details allocated to Title IX efforts for all the years after 2016 have not been made available to the public.
One of the most contentious recommendations involved the relocation of the Title IX Coordinator position. The review team proposed moving the role out of Student Affairs and establishing a direct reporting line to the college president. This change, they argued, would enhance accountability and reduce conflicts of interest, ensuring the coordinator could act independently in overseeing prevention, education and response efforts The external review explicitly recommended that the Title IX Coordinator’s position be moved out of Student Affairs and directly report to the president. It states:
“We recommend moving the Title IX role out of Student Affairs and establishing a direct reporting line to the president, perhaps with a ‘dotted line’ information-sharing link to Student Affairs. We think it important to have a deputy Title IX person within Student Affairs, who would work directly with students considering and entering a process”
The Title IX Coordinator, Cassandre Beccai, is now part of the Division of Inclusive Excellence which is not under student affairs.
The review also called for increased transparency in the handling of Title IX cases. Establishing a campus climate page to provide anonymized updates on reported incidents was one suggested approach. This initiative would allow the community to track patterns of misconduct and institutional responses without compromising confidentiality. Such transparency, the reviewers noted, could foster trust and encourage reporting.
The review recommended hiring a full-time Title IX investigator to reduce delays and workload on faculty members who are currently tasked with these duties. The Title IX office’s budget and staffing appear to remain stretched, with no direct mention of a full-time investigator added to the staff in the current budget or reports. The 2023-2024 Title IX Report (available on Whitman’s website) does not indicate this change, and Whitman still relies on faculty and staff to fulfill investigative roles.
The external review of Whitman College’s Title IX framework provides important recommendations for reform. As many colleges nationwide continue to face challenges in addressing sexual misconduct, Whitman’s experience highlights the need for better alignment between policies and their implementation. Survivors and respondents alike need a system that is both fair and effective, ensuring accountability and providing appropriate support. According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly one in five women are sexually assaulted while in college, underscoring the need for institutions to act decisively to improve their response systems. Until Whitman addresses the systemic issues identified in the review, its community will remain at risk of experiencing the same failures Title IX was designed to prevent. Moreover, it is essential that Title IX administrators are held accountable for their roles in either the previous shortcomings or any potential biases that continue to affect the process.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that the Title IX coordinator’s role is part of the Office of Equity and Compliance which operates in Student Affairs. Instead, the Title IX responsibilities were moved from the Division of Student Affairs to the Division of Inclusive Excellence in 2020. The article has been updated to reflect the accurate information.
