Title IX

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It is the policy of Southwestern Law School ("Southwestern" or the "Law School") to maintain an environment for students, faculty, administrators, staff, and visitors that is free of all forms of discrimination and harassment, including sexual misconduct. The Law School has enacted this Sexual Misconduct Policy (the "Policy") to reflect and maintain its institutional values and community expectations, to provide for fair and equitable procedures for determining when this Policy has been violated, and to provide recourse for individuals and the community in response to violations of this Policy.

This Policy prohibits all forms of sexual or gender-based discrimination, harassment, and misconduct, including sexual assault, non-consensual sexual contact, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking. This Policy also prohibits retaliation against a person who reports, complains about, or who otherwise participates in good faith in, any matter related to this Policy. All of the foregoing conduct shall be referred to as "Prohibited Conduct."

Southwestern does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, or other programs or in the context of employment. Sex discrimination is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a federal law that provides: 

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. 

Sexual harassment is also prohibited under Title IX, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and other applicable statutes. This Policy prohibits sexual harassment against Southwestern community members of any sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in the context of education or employment. This Policy also prohibits gender-based harassment that does not involve conduct of a sexual nature. 

The Law School strongly encourages all members of our community to take action to maintain and facilitate a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment on campus. In particular, the Law School expects that all Southwestern community members will take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent or stop Prohibited Conduct. The Law School strongly supports individuals who choose to take such action and will protect such individuals from retaliation. 

Upon receipt of a report, the Law School will take prompt and equitable action to eliminate the Prohibited Conduct (if any), prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects. In addition, the Law School will fulfill its obligations under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 ("VAWA") amendments to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("Clery Act") in response to reported Prohibited Conduct. The Law School's process for investigating and responding to reported Prohibited Conduct are contained in the following appendices: Appendix A (Grievance Process); Students who are found to have violated this Policy may face disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. 

Southwestern also prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race (including hairstyle and hair texture), ethnicity, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age (40 and over), disability (mental and physical), medical condition, citizenship status, military status or service, veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by law in matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services, or in the educational programs (including retention of students) or activities Southwestern operates.