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Mayor Walsh, college officials fighting proposed Title IX changes

BOSTON — There could be significant changes to the way sexual assaults are reported on college campuses.

On Wednesday, local college presidents and a sexual assault survivor joined Mayor Marty Walsh pushing back against the proposed changes by the U.S. Department of Education, which would give students accused to sexual misconduct greater protections.

"Secretary DeVos proposal to change Title IX would be devastating for survivors of sexual assault," said Walsh.

Mayor Walsh led the charge against sweeping new regulations to Title IX proposed by the Trump Administration. The federal law was established in 1972 to protect people from discrimination based on sex in education.

Among the most controversial changes, a student accused of sexual misconduct would be guaranteed, through a third party, to cross-examine the accuser.

"Those who've experienced sexual assault often find it very difficult to come forward and adding a cross-examination process similar to courtroom proceedings could make reporting a sexual assault even more daunting," said Suffolk University President Marisa Kelly.

Katie Mitrano is student body president at UMass Boston and says she was sexually assaulted her freshman year following a party shortly after arriving on campus.

"I understand the importance due process and I agree with the constitutional rights of those accused but this does not mean their rights are more important than the people they assaulted," said Mitrano.

The proposed rules also: narrow the definition of sexual assault, hold schools accountable only for complaints filed through a formal hearing process, limit investigations only to assaults said to have occurred on college campuses, and narrows the scope of who is considered a mandated reporter on campus.

"I strongly oppose this rule change and I’m doing everything I can we're doing everything we can in the city of Boston to stop it," said Walsh.

The U.S. Department of Education will field public comments until Jan. 29. After that, federal officials must wait roughly three months before changing regulations.

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