Opinion ID: 4425842
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Atmosphere at Hofstra

Text: The events at issue occurred against a general background of debate and criticism concerning the handling of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct by American universities, including Hofstra. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education issued a now‐ famous “Dear Colleague” letter to colleges and universities.2 The “Dear Colleague” letter “ushered in a more rigorous approach to campus sexual misconduct allegations” by defining “‘sexual harassment’ more broadly than in comparable contexts” and requiring that “schools prioritize the investigation and resolution 1 Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 572 (2007) (citation omitted). To be clear, we evince no views concerning whether the “facts” we detail below are actually true. Our task is limited to determining whether, if Menaker’s allegations were true, they would state a Title VII sex‐discrimination claim. 2 See Office of the Assistant Sec’y for Civil Rights, “Dear Colleague” Letter, U.S. DEP’T OF EDUC. (Apr. 4, 2011), https://www2.ed.gov/print/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague‐201104.html. 4 of harassment claims” and adopt a lower burden of proof when adjudicating claims of sexual misconduct.3 By May 2015, the national press had identified Hofstra as one of several universities under investigation by the Department of Education for possible mishandling of sexual misconduct claims. At the same time, Hofstra also faced internal criticism for its assertedly inadequate response to male sexual misconduct on campus.4