Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
Sign In
  • Sections
    • News
    • Advice
    • The Review
  • Topics
    • Data
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Finance & Operations
    • International
    • Leadership & Governance
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Student Success
    • Technology
    • Transitions
    • The Workplace
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Special Issues
    • Podcast: College Matters from The Chronicle
  • Newsletters
  • Virtual Events
  • Ask Chron
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Professional Development
    • Career Resources
    • Virtual Career Fair
  • More
  • Sections
    • News
    • Advice
    • The Review
  • Topics
    • Data
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Finance & Operations
    • International
    • Leadership & Governance
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Student Success
    • Technology
    • Transitions
    • The Workplace
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Special Issues
    • Podcast: College Matters from The Chronicle
  • Newsletters
  • Virtual Events
  • Ask Chron
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Professional Development
    • Career Resources
    • Virtual Career Fair
    Upcoming Events:
    An AI-Driven Work Force
    University Transformation
Sign In
News

Education Dept. Praises Yale in Resolving Sex-Bias Investigation

By Sara Lipka June 15, 2012

After a yearlong investigation, the U.S. Department of Education announced on Friday an agreement with Yale University to resolve a complaint alleging sex discrimination on the campus, in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

The complaint stemmed from a high-profile incident in October 2010, in which male students pledging a fraternity repeated a sexually aggressive chant—"No means yes, yes means anal."—outside Yale’s Women’s Center. The incident was recorded, posted to YouTube, and circulated among students. According to the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, the complaint, which described an “ongoing pattern of sexual harassment,” alleged that a “sexually hostile environment existed on campus.”

To continue reading for FREE, please sign in.

Sign In

Or subscribe now to read with unlimited access for as low as $10/month.

Don’t have an account? Sign up now.

A free account provides you access to a limited number of free articles each month, plus newsletters, job postings, salary data, and exclusive store discounts.

Sign Up

After a yearlong investigation, the U.S. Department of Education announced on Friday an agreement with Yale University to resolve a complaint alleging sex discrimination on the campus, in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

The complaint stemmed from a high-profile incident in October 2010, in which male students pledging a fraternity repeated a sexually aggressive chant—"No means yes, yes means anal."—outside Yale’s Women’s Center. The incident was recorded, posted to YouTube, and circulated among students. According to the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, the complaint, which described an “ongoing pattern of sexual harassment,” alleged that a “sexually hostile environment existed on campus.”

The ensuing, extensive civil-rights investigation—which focused on the status of Yale’s Title IX coordinator, a position required under the law, and of its grievance process—has represented to many observers the department’s tougher enforcement of the gender-equity statute. The investigation began in April 2011, the same week the department released a forceful “Dear Colleague” letter prescribing how colleges must handle reports of sexual misconduct.

As of this week, the civil-rights office is actively investigating 34 colleges and universities for complaints of sexual harassment. Friday’s announcement marked the first major resolution since last year’s powerful letter.

Ultimately, the department did not find Yale out of compliance with Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination at institutions that receive federal funds. The department did criticize some of Yale’s previous policies and say that students who were interviewed during the investigation reported “a chain of incidents to which the university did not effectively respond.” But at the same time, federal officials praised the university for “proactively” introducing numerous new policies and procedures in the past year to try to achieve a safer, more supportive environment for students.

“They showed a lot of courage early on,” Russlynn H. Ali, the department’s assistant secretary for civil rights, said of Yale’s efforts at a news conference on Friday. “I applaud Yale for the changes it has made.” Meanwhile, the civil-rights office announced plans to monitor Yale closely at least through 2014.

Numerous Changes at Yale

In the past year, Yale has established a new structure of Title IX coordinators, replacing a previous coordinator more involved in human resources than in student life. The new structure gives primary responsibility to Stephanie Spangler, deputy provost of health affairs, who oversees a group of deputy coordinators and collaborates with various campus departments, notably the police.

The university has also updated its grievance process for reporting complaints. Previously, students had two options, which the Education Department called “unclear and confusing": an informal Sexual Harassment Grievance Board, which did not keep records or investigate complaints, and the campuswide disciplinary system, which students told civil-rights investigators was “very unfriendly to victims of sexual misconduct, resulting in only a small number of cases’ being brought forward.”

Now Yale has a new University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct, which lets alleged victims pursue either an informal process, in which the committee tries to resolve issues without an investigation or hearing, or a formal process, conducted by an outside fact-finder and resulting in a hearing and possible disciplinary sanctions against the alleged perpetrator.

The department’s praise for Yale’s changes suggests that the new system may be upheld as a model for dealing with complaints of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault. In announcing the settlement of this case, the department also outlined what a grievance process must entail, including “designated and reasonably prompt time frames” and a minimal burden on the alleged victim, with special attention to changes in housing or courses to minimize contact with the alleged perpetrator.

Training and Communication

Yale officials said on Friday that they were pleased with the resolution of the investigation by the Office for Civil Rights. “We are gratified that OCR has recognized Yale’s extensive efforts and ongoing commitment to prevent and address sexual misconduct,” university officials said in a written statement. “The university has committed extensive resources toward improving its policies, procedures, practices, and services to provide an environment in which all students feel safe and well supported, and protected from sexual misconduct.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Under the agreement, Yale has also committed to comprehensive training on sexual misconduct—for not only faculty and staff members and police officers, but also freshmen, sophomores, leaders of athletic teams and student groups, and undergraduate “consent and communication educators.” The university has created a new vice president for student life and a Title IX working group, both with plans to conduct regular assessments of the campus climate with respect to gender discrimination and sexual misconduct.

Communication has become another major priority for Yale, according to Education Department documents. A comprehensive Web site now collects all of the university’s resources, policies, and procedures on sexual misconduct and assault. And Yale officials have already started publishing reports to the campus community, excluding any personally identifying information, on the outcomes of sexual-misconduct complaints.

As for the fraternity involved in the original incident, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Yale has prohibited it for five years from engaging in any activities, including recruitment, on university property or e-mail networks. Yale has also barred all fraternities and sororities from rush, or recruiting new members, in the fall of their first year.

Following the series of changes at Yale, administrators have seen more complaints of sexual misconduct, a development many experts see as evidence that victims feel more comfortable coming forward. The university must continue to report to the Education Department for the next two years, as federal officials asserted that they would remain vigilant.

Jennifer González contributed to this article.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
Lipka_Sara.jpg
About the Author
Sara Lipka
Sara Lipka works to develop editorial products in different formats that connect deeply with our audience. Follow her on Twitter @chronsara, or email her at sara.lipka@chronicle.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

More News

Mangan-Censorship-0610.jpg
Academic Freedom
‘A Banner Year for Censorship’: More States Are Restricting Classroom Discussions on Race and Gender
On the day of his retirement party, Bob Morse poses for a portrait in the Washington, D.C., offices of U.S. News and World Report in June 2025. Morse led the magazine's influential and controversial college rankings efforts since its inception in 1988. Michael Theis, The Chronicle.
List Legacy
‘U.S. News’ Rankings Guru, Soon to Retire, Reflects on the Role He’s Played in Higher Ed
Black and white photo of the Morrill Hall building on the University of Minnesota campus with red covering one side.
Finance & operations
U. of Minnesota Tries to Soften the Blow of Tuition Hikes, Budget Cuts With Faculty Benefits
Photo illustration showing a figurine of a football player with a large price tag on it.
Athletics
Loans, Fees, and TV Money: Where Colleges Are Finding the Funds to Pay Athletes

From The Review

A stack of coins falling over. Motion blur. Falling economy concept. Isolated on white.
The Review | Opinion
Will We Get a More Moderate Endowment Tax?
By Phillip Levine
Photo illustration of a classical column built of paper, with colored wires overtaking it like vines of ivy
The Review | Essay
The Latest Awful EdTech Buzzword: “Learnings”
By Kit Nicholls
William F. Buckley, Jr.
The Review | Interview
William F. Buckley Jr. and the Origins of the Battle Against ‘Woke’
By Evan Goldstein

Upcoming Events

Plain_Acuity_DurableSkills_VF.png
Why Employers Value ‘Durable’ Skills
Warwick_Leadership_Javi.png
University Transformation: A Global Leadership Perspective
Lead With Insight
  • Explore Content
    • Latest News
    • Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Chronicle Intelligence
    • Jobs in Higher Education
    • Post a Job
  • Know The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Vision, Mission, Values
    • DEI at The Chronicle
    • Write for Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • Our Reporting Process
    • Advertise With Us
    • Brand Studio
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Account and Access
    • Manage Your Account
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Group and Institutional Access
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
  • Get Support
    • Contact Us
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • User Agreement
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2025 The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is academe’s most trusted resource for independent journalism, career development, and forward-looking intelligence. Our readers lead, teach, learn, and innovate with insights from The Chronicle.
Follow Us
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin