Nicole Bedera on the Cornell 7, Title IX, and How Universities Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence
Sociologist Nicole Bedera joins co-hosts V.V Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to talk about the Cornell 7 and her book, On the Wrong Side: How Universites Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence. She explains how the Cornell case, in
Nicole Bedera, a sociologist, joined hosts V.V Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss her book On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence. The conversation centered around the Cornell 7 case, in which seven students were accused of gang-raping a fellow student at a fraternity party at Cornell University. Bedera explained how this case is emblematic of a broader issue of universities mishandling sexual violence reports.
Title IX, a law passed in 1972 prohibiting sex-based discrimination, became relevant to sexual violence cases when the Supreme Court case Alexander v. Yale College (1980) recognized sexual violence as a form of sex discrimination. Bedera highlighted the fluctuations in Title IX's effectiveness since its inception and pointed out that under the Trump administration, regulations were loosened, making it easier for universities to avoid accountability.
She discussed the reasons why universities often fail survivors, emphasizing that it is typically a widespread issue, not just an exceptional case like the Cornell 7. Bedera also addressed misconceptions about sexual violence and Title IX investigations, explaining that universities often refer to such cases as isolated incidents rather than systemic problems. Additionally, she shared her experiences as a victim advocate and argued for the potential reimagining of Title IX as a state agency to enhance its effectiveness.
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