Dordt University and a former student claiming sex discrimination have apparently settled out of court.
The documents filed in 2019 allege the plaintiff, who was only identified as “John Doe” was a male undergraduate student in his final semester at Dordt University, and was falsely accused, in the final semester of his senior year, of sexually assaulting a fellow Dordt student, identified only as “Jane Roe,” in violation of Dordt’s student conduct code. The suit says the claim arose out of an encounter between Doe and Roe, wherein it says “both parties consumed alcohol and engaged in consensual sexual activity, which was undisputedly initiated by Roe.”
The suit alleges that Dordt officials proceeded as if this were a sexual assault perpetrated by Doe. It accuses Dordt officials of trampling on Doe’s rights during the process and delaying his appeal until it was impossible for him to graduate. It says when he tried to re-apply, Dordt officials denied him a full re-admission unless he would sign a statement saying he would not file a Title IX suit against Dordt.
Doe claims that the actions are gender-biased, contrary to Title IX, which protects people from sex discrimination at schools and universities that receive federal funds.
The trial in the case was to have started this week, but a document recently filed with the court states that the parties have settled and will no longer go to trial. The court is still awaiting a written, finalized, signed agreement. It says that the Court asked whether the parties would file the fact of settlement publicly, and the parties said this would occur. But until that happens, the case has been placed on “stay” status until it’s all official.
Courtesy of KIWA
