Many students never have to deal with disciplinary procedures on campus. An accused individual in a sexual misconduct investigation is likely to be dealing with college investigations and hearings for the first time.
Each university has its own Title IX policy. When an alleged victim files a complaint, the Dean of Students is likely to get involved, and the school's Title IX coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs may decide to launch an official inquiry.
It can take months for an inquiry, disciplinary hearings, and appeals to be completed. In the meantime, accused parties must contend with huge invasions of privacy, a lack of institutional support, and the possibility of reprisal for their alleged violations.