In high school, we are taught certain federal laws and occasionally historical court cases. However, we usually forget them or are just not told about laws that can protect our reputation or amplify our voices towards injustice. With recent events like the #MeToo Movement and #BlackLivesMatter, we have learned to question the government and general institutions. More importantly, we should all know our rights. Below are seven rights that every college student in America should know to ensure that they are receiving the college experience that they legally deserve.
1. Campus SaVE Act
The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act, also known as Campus SaVE, requires annual campus crime statistic reports and prevention education for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. Since October 2014, schools receiving any Title IV funding are required to follow this law and submit an Annual Security Report. If you are concerned about the safety of your school or a bigger issue going on around campus with certain acts of violence, you have the right to these security reports. In fact, if your school does not comply, they will be fined up to $35,000 per violation and lose its federal student aid programs.
In addition, the Campus SaVe Act provides accommodations and protective measures to any survivor, even if the individual does not wish to report the incident to law enforcement.
2. Clery Act
In 1986, Jeanne Clery, a Lehigh University student, was raped and murdered in her campus dorm by a peer. Her death sparked conversation about unreported crimes on college campuses, prompting the creation of the Clery Act to provide a safer and healthier environment for college students. Specifically, this law requires all colleges and universities involved in federal student aid programs to have a clear transparency of campus crime statistics and security information.
3. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Many campus athletes may be aware of Title IX because it prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally-funded college education program or activity. Thus, your school must provide equal opportunities to both female- and male-dominated programs and activities. In fact, your school department, counseling service, professor or generally any educational aspect cannot favor a specific sex.
4. First Amendment
The protests erupting on many universities is a display of your right to free speech. Even if you're not in a mass political group, your school does not have the right to suppress your thoughts or opinions. The First Amendment protects your speech and expression, eliminating a university's ability to censor their students. However, it is important the note that this law does not condone actions of violence or harassment that may be perpetuated while one is voicing their opinions.
5. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) protects the privacy and control over the release of a student education records. For college students, the majority of whom are over 18, they are the only individuals who have the right to access their educational records. Meaning, anyone else, including your parents, cannot ask the school for your records, such as your GPA, academic probation or disciplinary history, without your written permission.
6. Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, one of the largest crime bill in US history to control and prevent crime, was amended by the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act in 2000 and implemented in 2002 to specifically require sex offenders registered under state law to provide notice of enrollment or employment in institutions of higher education. State authorities or a local law enforcement agency near your university must provide a statement to the campus community about registered sex crime offenders on campus. In fact, if you visit your campus police department or a nearby law enforcement agency, you will be able to obtain information identifying registered sex offenders who are enrolled or employed at your university.
7. Title VI of The Civil Rights Act
Similar to Title IX, Title VI specifies that no one will be discriminated against based on race, color or national origin in activities or programs that receive federal funds or financial assistance. This law may also apply to scholarships and housing availability. If you do attest to any practices at school, Title VI also states that your university may not retaliate against you for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or because you have made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action against the school.
If your university is not abiding by these seven laws but is receiving any form of federal funding, there are many ways you can approach the situation. You may contact an organization that defends individual rights such as the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), file a complaint to Office for Civil Rights (OCR) which enforces these laws from the Department of Education or personally sue the school. In today's digital age, you can even gather press by posting your situation on social media, rallying the resources and support for your efforts.
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