U of Kentucky ditches double jeopardy, adds unanimity in rape cases

But it says no to paying for students’ lawyers

College Fix: The interim Title IX guidance released by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos* last fall was far less prescriptive than the guidance that colleges followed for the previous six years.

Even before DeVos’s department finishes the notice-and-comment regulatory rulemaking that her Obama administration predecessors ignored, the University of Kentucky has already made changes that strengthen fairness in its own Title IX investigations.

The Kentucky Kernel reports that while UK is keeping the low evidence standard of “preponderance” – a common reaction by universities to the DeVos interim guidance – it is junking a provision that lets accusers appeal “not responsible” findings in favor of the accused.

Double jeopardy is banned in U.S. courts but not uncommon in Title IX proceedings. A recent survey found it’s popular with students when the subject is sexual-misconduct investigations. Such a provision is reportedly responsible for at least one attempted suicide by an accused student.  more here