Current News and Communications

March 2021

Executive Order on Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

1^st 100 days, March 2021 President Biden ordered a review of existing regulations and policies to account for the significant rates at which students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) are subject to sexual harassment, which encompasses sexual violence; to ensure that educational institutions are providing appropriate support for students who have experienced sex discrimination; and to ensure that their school procedures are fair and equitable for all.

Read order here.

April 2021

Biden Administration shared Sex and Gender letter to parents outlining ensuring equal access for students.

Read letter here.

June 2021

In honor of Pride month, the Office for Civil Rights published a Pride blog and issued a notice of interpretation. This notice explains that the OCR will enforce Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, consistent with the reasoning in Bostock v. Clayton County, issued one year ago on June 15, 2020. You can find the press release here. Additionally, the OCR compiled a list of resources for LGBT+ students. 

June 7, 2021 - June 11, 2021

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it would conduct a comprehensive review of its regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, starting with a public hearing on the issues of sexual harassment in school environments, including sexual violence, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. From June 7, 2021 — June 11, 2021, the OCR will hosted a virtual public hearing.  The OCR seeked participation from the public to address:

• • 1. Steps the Department can take to ensure that schools are providing students with educational environments free from discrimination in the form of sexual harassment.
    2. How the Department can continue to ensure that schools have grievance procedures that provide for the fair, prompt, and equitable resolution of reports of sexual harassment and other sex discrimination.
    3. The Department’s role in addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in educational environments. 

The public hearing took place on the following dates and times:

• • • June 7, 2021, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., CST
    • June 8, 2021, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.,  CST
    • June 9, 2021, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., CST
    • June 10, 2021, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., CST
    • June 11, 2021, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.,  CST

Campus and Local Level

On June 3, 2021, the NCAA released an updated timeline for when educational institutions must be in compliance with their Policy on Campus Sexual Violence. Read the full report here.

In Spring 2021, the Title IX Office sought campus feedback from current employees and students who have engaged with the Title IX Office, as well as suggestions and comments overall. The feedback survey was available on my.involvement or through the link in your LFC email. 

Visit the Title IX Homepage, my.involvement, or your LFC email for further internal communication.

March 2020

White House issued a Proclamation on 2020 Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month.

May 2020

January 2019

Comments submitted by Lake Forest College's Coalition Against Sexual Misconduct on January 30, 2019, on the proposed Department of Education Title IX regulations.

Local radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM featured a segment about Zacharias Center in Gurnee. This segment centered around the Z-Center's workshop to teach young mento fight rape culture. 

Listen to the Congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce” hearing on “Prevention and Responding to Sexual Assault on College Campuses” from Thursday, September 10, 2015.

Check out seeactstop.org to get facts, take action and help bring an end to the culture of campus sexual assault.