This year, Haco Hoang, chair of California Lutheran University’s Political Science Department, and Assistant Professor of Psychology Amanda ElBassiouny received a $1,000 #MeTooPoliSci grant to conduct research on the efficacy of Title IX reporting, investigating and adjudication procedures.

“It just kind of made sense,” Hoang said in a Zoom interview. “At the same time two years ago we kind of had this #MeToo movement as well. And…Title IX, which is part of the 1972 amendment to the Civil Rights Act, has never had a major revision [until this year].”

On May 6, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced substantial revisions to Title IX, including broadening the definition of sexual assault to include “dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex” and expanding the rights of the accused.

“More recently, Title IX has shifted [to] being about, you know, general education, equity and fairness and had been applied to athletics to of course being applied to sexual misconduct and sexual assault on college campuses,” Hoang said.

The research, beginning with a qualitative analysis of the new Title IX revisions, will include surveys of Cal Lutheran University students, faculty and staff to better understand their perspectives on the current campus climate.

Senior Alexis Rizo is enrolled in Hoang’s Political Science capstone course and is contributing to her research. In a Zoom interview, Rizo said she will assist in evaluating the survey data.

“I think what I’m looking forward to most is Dr. Hoang’s research; looking at actually the case study of Cal Lu as well and I think it is a really good opportunity just to kind of see how policy research can contribute to…our community,” Rizo said.

Hoang said she does have some concerns about how Cal Lutheran intends to apply the new revisions.

“There is a lot of leeway on what universities will consider school-sponsored activity [in the new revisions]. I’m not comfortable with universities deciding what is considered a school-sponsored activity,” Hoang said.

In an email interview, Angela Naginey, deputy registrar of Academic Services and the new Title IX coordinator, said part of her role is to help students reach their goals during their collegiate careers and use the #MeToo movement as a tool toward their success.

“One of the ways to empower and assist students with their own student success and achieving their goals is to help them realize the power of their own self-advocacy. When students become involved in the Cal Lutheran community, they are more connected and invested to achieve their goals,” Naginey said.

In an email interview, Stephanie Rendon, class of 2020 alumna and former department assistant for the Political Science Department, said Hoang gave her a deeper understanding of Title IX issues and how they affect people.

“She is passionate about it and cares for her students and the community as a whole. I don’t think anyone else is as passionate as she is in trying to make a meaningful difference to impact CLU positively,” Rendon said.

Hoang and ElBassiouny’s research is still in the early stages, but when completed it will provide insight into how to improve Cal Lutheran’s Title IX procedures.